13 Badges Kenya Police Wear & Their Meanings [PHOTOS]

Police during a parade and Senior Sergeant badge
Police during a parade and Senior Sergeant badge.
NPS

Law enforcement officers in the country don various badges on their official uniform to signify their ranks in different units.

Top police bosses from the Inspector General (IG) wear unique badges that set them apart from their juniors.

The National Police Service (NPS) publicised the badges of ranks that were revised on April 2, 2017. 

Inspector General

Inspector General badge
Inspector General badge.
NPS

Inspector General's badge is placed on the shoulder. It is distinguished by crossed scimitar sword and swagger cane surrounded by a laurel wreath.

The laurel wreath is surmounted by two lion badges. The name ‘National Police Service’ is inscribed at the base of the cloth badge.

Deputy Inspector General

Deputy Inspector General's badge
Deputy Inspector General's badge.
NPS

The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) dons a shoulder badge with crossed scimitar sword and swagger cane surrounded by a laurel wreath, surmounted by a military pattern star and a lion badge.

The name of the respective service, which the Deputy Inspector General is drawn from, is inscribed at the base of the cloth badge.

 Senior Assistant Inspector General

Senior Assistant Inspector General's badge
Senior Assistant Inspector General's badge.
NPS

Senior Assistant Inspector General's (SAIG) badge is different from that of his seniors. 

The shoulder badge has crossed scimitar sword and a swagger cane surrounded by a laurel wreath surmounted by a lion badge.

What differentiates the SAIG badge from that of the DIG is the military pattern star.

However, the name of the respective service is inscribed at the base of the cloth badge.

Assistant Inspector General

Assistant Inspector General's badge
Assistant Inspector General's badge.
NPS

The Assistant Inspector General badge lacks a lion. Unlike the other ranks, their shoulder badges have crossed scimitar sword and a swagger cane surrounded by a laurel wreath surmounted by two military pattern stars.

The name of the respective service where the Assistant Inspector General of Police is drawn from is inscribed at the base of the cloth badge.

Commissioner

Police Commissioner's badge
Police Commissioner's badge.
NPS

A commissioner wears shoulder badges with two crossed spears surrounded by a laurel wreath surmounted by one military pattern star.

"The name of the respective service is inscribed at the base of the cloth badge," NPS stated in their revised statement.

Senior Superintendent

These officers wear a shoulder badge with two military pattern stars surmounted by a lion badge.

The name of the respective service is inscribed at the base of the cloth badge.

Superitendent of Police

Superintendent of Police wears a shoulder badge with one military pattern star surmounted by a lion badge.

The name of the respective service is inscribed at the base of the cloth badge.

Photo collage between Senior Superintendent and Superintendent's badge
Photo collage between Senior Superintendent and Superintendent's badge.
NPS

Assistant Superitendent

To distinguish their rank, they wear shoulder badges that are only surrounded by a laurel wreath.

Chief Inspector

Chief Inspector's badges are placed on the shoulder.

Their badges have three military pattern stars. Their cap is usually plain, but the name of the respective service is inscribed at the base of the cloth badge.

Inspector

Inspectors wear shoulder badges with two military pattern stars. Their peak cap is plain; however, the name of the respective service is inscribed at the base of the cloth badge.

Senior Sergeant

Their badges are made of three bars with the Coat of Arms in National Colours embroidered on their dark blue cloth.

They wear plain caps, and unlike their seniors, the name of their respective service is not inscribed on the badges.

 

Sergeant 

Sergeants wear a badge with three bars and red chevrons on their dark blue uniforms.

Corporal

Their badges have two red chevrons mounted on their uniform.  They also wear plain caps with no court of arms.

Senior Sergeant badge and that of the sergeant
Senior Sergeant badge and that of the sergeant.
NPS