Lead image for New look, old habits: Why police are switching uniforms, again .
Police officers will don new uniforms from Friday, replacing the deep navy-blue outfit introduced in 2018 under the leadership of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"We have been using the deep blue one, so we have just reverted back to the one that was agreed upon. I must note that on Monday, I will also be in that new one," Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja said.
He spoke on Tuesday after attending a rehearsal parade for police constables who have been training in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, adding that the graduating recruits will wear the new uniform during their pass-out parade.
President William Ruto will unveil the new uniform on Friday at the Kenya Police College during a pass-out parade. However, officers serving in the Administration Police Service and the General Service Unit will retain their current uniforms.
The change in uniform, Mr Kanja said, was aimed at boosting the morale and service delivery of National Police Service staff.
Officers reject deep navy blue outfit
The uniform change follows a 2023 public participation exercise in which police officers rejected the current deep navy-blue outfit and called for changes to better meet their operational needs.
In 2018, the National Police Service introduced the current shade of blue as part of the reform agenda in the police. At the time, the Persian-blue design was rejected by officers who claimed the uniform was not comfortable or stylish. The current uniform has been a subject of criticism, with some officers likening it to the uniform worn by a church choir.