The launch of new police uniforms seemed to have taken effect after an image of the Inspector General of Police together with his officers was seen donning the new regalia.
This development sparked debate and reactions from netizens who aired divergent views on the introduction of the uniform.
A user by the name of Don Obee opined, “No uniform will match the old ones, these new ones resemble a church uniform. They resemble the blue ones,”
Jaytee Juma was disappointed by the news, “This country is amazing. It is like we are always looking for ways to waste money,”
“Misplaced priorities, how there is a budget for this and reduced budgets for state agencies to even finalize recruitment of young graduates beats me,” Ondimu Ezra lamented.
Steve Warui observed, "I think the uniforms 'look better' than the current ones. However, with 'empty coffers' and high cost of living, should this be a priority?"
The introduction of new police uniforms is among the reforms the police service sector has embarked on through the welfare task force formed by President William Ruto.
During the presentation of proposals, the National Police Service Commission told the task force it wanted police to revert to the old police uniform for general duty officers and not the deep blue introduced in 2019.
The officers had decried that the current police uniform was not gender-responsive to women police officers, especially during pregnancy.
On January 15, President William Ruto’s administration allowed the police to wear uniforms phased out by former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.
Poor quality and shortage of the widely unpopular, all-royal blue uniforms have been cited as the reasons behind the reintroduction of the old uniforms.
This directive would see general duty Kenya Police Service (KPS) officers operating with two sets of uniforms, the old and the new.
The arrangement to have in use two sets of uniforms at the same time for general duty assignments is expected to continue until a task force on police reforms set by President Ruto gives its final recommendations on which uniforms will stay in use.
