President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday launched the policy framework and strategy on the reorganisation of the National Police Service where he announced at least eight major changes.
In his address, the Head of State stated that the reforms - ranging from changes in structure and command, integration of regular and administration police, change of uniform, the rebranding of colleges and introduction of housing allowances for junior officers - were meant to make the officers more efficient.
"These reforms are aimed at making the police a service that is respected rather than a force that is feared," Uhuru explained.
Uhuru merged the Regular Police and Administration Police (AP) into a new unit referred to as the General Duty Officers (GD) which will don blue uniforms moving forward.
The announcement elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans online with many seemingly not impressed with the new attire.
"Na hizi shida zote Kenya, ukaamua tu pesa ya loan ununue uniforms (With all the problems in the country, you saw it fit to use the loans for new uniforms)," one user posed to the President.
"What they wear doesn't really matter if they impose fear, they shall be feared. Changing a books cover doesn't alter the content. We have more immediate issues," another stated.
Echoing the sentiments, one netizen added, "As long as the qualifications for joining the police remains to be the number of teeth, reforms remain just a name!"
Others had a more comical reaction to the new uniforms noticing that they had pockets which they could do without.
"But I propose some changes on the uniform; they should be pocketless for those serving in the traffic department," one user noted.
Another faulted the president's team for the uniforms, "Your advisors are just pathetic! How do changing of Uniforms help us as Kenyans. This is just individual benefits being enforced. Instead, you should channel your efforts towards a positive police experience that will deliver better services to the public!"
