KIGANJO, Nyeri County—Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended Kenya’s redesigned police uniform, saying its introduction will be gradual and was informed by consultations involving police officers and members of the public.
Murkomen dismissed criticism of the new attire, saying the government’s wider police reform programme should not be reduced to the change of uniform.
He spoke on Friday during the passing-out parade of more than 6,000 newly trained police officers at the National Police College in Kiganjo, where President William Ruto unveiled the new General Duty uniform.
Murkomen said the change followed recommendations by a presidential task force established to examine police welfare and working conditions.
“The task force you established recommended that the national police uniform needs to be changed,” Murkomen told Ruto.
He said the design was the outcome of public participation and consultations with serving officers.
“The uniform that you unveiled today is as a result of rigorous public participation, and the police officers themselves chose their uniform,” he said.
Murkomen also sought to dispel concerns that the new design would require the government to immediately replace uniforms currently worn by serving officers.
He said existing uniforms would not be discarded and that the new attire would be introduced progressively as officers replace their uniforms in the normal course of service.
“Contrary to the propaganda out there, the uniform is not an exchange of the uniform that the officers are wearing now and throw away the uniform they are wearing,” Murkomen said.
The initial rollout will target the 10,000 police officers recruited under the current administration, before being extended progressively to other General Duty officers.
Ruto said the new uniform followed consultations conducted in 2023 and recommendations made by the presidential task force.
The more than 6,000 officers graduating from Kiganjo will be the first major group to wear the new attire when they begin active service.
“Today we are also unveiling a new uniform for general duty officers of the Kenya Police Service,” Ruto said.
“The graduating officers will be the first to wear the new uniform. It will then be progressively rolled out to general duty officers throughout the country,” he added.
The redesigned General Duty uniform replaces the previous predominantly deep-blue appearance with a light sky-blue shirt and deep navy-blue trousers. Officers will also wear a navy-blue beret or peak cap carrying the police insignia.
The uniform has a Kenyan flag patch on the upper sleeve, National Police Service markings, shoulder epaulettes, lanyard attachment loops and two chest pockets with buttoned flaps. The design also includes provisions for women officers, including arrangements for expectant policewomen.
The Administration Police Service and General Service Unit will retain their current operational uniforms, with the new design initially applying to General Duty officers.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja said the new attire was part of efforts to strengthen officers’ morale and professional identity.
However, Ruto cautioned against expecting the uniform itself to transform the police service.
“We appreciate that a uniform does not necessarily create professionalism. Character, discipline, training and conduct do,” the President said.
The new officers joined the National Police College on November 24, 2025, and completed nine months of training covering areas including police procedures, law, tactics, criminal investigations, human rights and community policing.
Their deployment marks the beginning of a phased transition to the new General Duty uniform across the Kenya Police Service.
