26/08/2026
President William Ruto is set to unveil a new Kenya Police Service uniform on Friday as the government begins the nationwide rollout of the attire next week.
The new uniform marks a return to an earlier design after the current deep-blue attire faced opposition from police officers and members of the public during consultations held in 2023.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has said officers will begin wearing the new uniform on Monday, August 31, with the change expected to be implemented across the country in the coming weeks.
Kanja says the move is intended to improve officers' morale and enhance service delivery, particularly among newly recruited officers.
The President will officially commission the uniform during the Kenya Police Service pass-out parade at the Kiganjo Police Training College in Nyeri County on Friday, August 28.
Kanja says the uniform was selected following consultations with officers and the public, adding that the National Police Service had decided to return to the previously agreed design.
The move also follows recommendations by a police reforms task force led by retired Chief Justice David Maraga. The task force proposed that the National Police Service revert to its former uniform for three years while a new design is developed.
The task force has cited complaints over the quality and supply of uniforms and noted concerns raised by members of the public, police officers, and the service's leadership.
The previous government replaced the long-standing police uniform with a redesigned version following the merger of the Kenya Police Service and the Administration Police. The change was intended to improve visibility and create greater uniformity across the service.
