Kenya police set for new look as 6,000 recruits prepare to debut uniform

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya's general duty police officers are set for a change of appearance from Monday, August 31, when the National Police Service begins rolling out a new uniform to replace the deep-blue attire introduced in 2018.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed the start date on Tuesday, saying President William Ruto will officially unveil the new uniform on Friday, August 28, during the passing-out parade of more than 6,000 newly trained police constables at Kiganjo, Nyeri County.

The graduating officers will be the first to wear the new outfit before it is gradually issued to other general duty officers across the country.

Kanja said the change follows a public participation exercise conducted in 2023, during which police officers and members of the public were invited to give their views on the proposed uniform.

“We have been using the blue, the deep blue one, so we have just reverted back to the one that was agreed upon,” Kanja said.

He added that he would also wear the new uniform when the rollout begins.

“On Monday, I will also be in that one,” the IG said.

From deep blue back to a familiar look

The change marks a reversal of the decision made in 2018, when the National Police Service introduced a deep-blue working uniform for general duty officers.

The 2018 uniform was intended to improve the visibility of police officers and create greater uniformity across the service following the restructuring that brought the former Administration Police and Kenya Police Service closer together.

But the colour quickly became controversial.

In 2023, the National Police Service began a fresh process of seeking views on a replacement.

The proposed design featured light-blue shirts paired with dark navy trousers and sweaters, with officers' names and service numbers displayed on the uniform.

The public participation exercise covered different regions, with officers asked to express their preferences.

The process eventually produced the uniform that is now being prepared for nationwide rollout.

Why the change took three years

The decision to change the uniform has taken considerably longer than many officers expected.

Public participation began in August 2023, with the National Police Service saying it wanted views from both officers and the public before settling on a final design.

By February 2025, however, the rollout had stalled.

Reports at the time indicated that some officers were still waiting for the new uniforms, while questions remained over procurement, funding and nationwide distribution.

The government also acknowledged the scale of the task.

Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo previously said more than 90,000 officers would require new uniforms and that procurement and distribution would need to be properly planned to avoid the uneven rollout seen in 2018.

The latest announcement suggests the process has now moved from consultation to implementation.

Kanja says morale is part of the equation

For the police leadership, the change is about more than colour.

Kanja said the new uniform should help improve officers' morale and, in turn, support better service delivery.

“This is also going to be a force multiplier in terms of morale boosting for our officers, especially the new recruits,” he said.

That argument is significant because the quality and availability of police equipment has previously been raised as an issue within the service.

A 2026 report highlighted complaints from some officers about worn-out uniforms and instances in which officers had sought uniforms from outside suppliers.

The success of the new rollout will therefore depend not only on the design but also on whether officers receive properly made uniforms in sufficient numbers.

Not every police unit is changing uniform

The rollout will not affect the entire National Police Service at the same time.

The new outfit will initially apply to general duty officers in the Kenya Police Service.

Officers serving in the Administration Police Service and General Service Unit (GSU) will retain their current uniforms as the new attire is introduced.

That means Kenyans will continue to see different uniforms among police formations even after the rollout begins.

A uniform cannot fix everything

The government is presenting the change as part of efforts to improve morale and service delivery.

But the uniform debate has also attracted criticism from security experts who have argued that changing the appearance of officers is not enough to address deeper problems within the service.

In 2023, security analysts questioned whether changing uniforms would have a meaningful impact without corresponding improvements in training, equipment, discipline and public relations.

That remains an important part of the conversation.

The National Police Service has faced scrutiny over conduct, accountability and relations with the public. Those issues cannot be resolved by a change of colour.

The new uniform may improve comfort, identity and morale if officers receive well-made and properly fitting attire.

But public confidence will ultimately be judged by how officers behave while wearing it.

The timing is also politically significant

The rollout comes less than a year before Kenya's 2027 General Election, when the police service will be expected to maintain security across the country during what is likely to be a highly competitive political period.

More than 6,000 newly trained officers are due to join the service after the Kiganjo passing-out parade.

The new recruits will therefore enter active duty at a particularly important moment for the country.

Kanja has said the additional officers will strengthen policing capacity as Kenya prepares for the 2027 elections.

For the police leadership, the combination of new recruits and new uniforms offers an opportunity to reinforce a sense of identity within the service.

For the public, however, the bigger question will be whether the changes are reflected in everyday policing.

From August 31, Kenyans will start seeing the difference

President Ruto's unveiling on Friday will mark the formal launch.

The first major public display of the new uniform will come when the graduating constables parade at Kiganjo.

From the following Monday, the new attire will begin appearing on general duty officers, with the wider rollout expected to continue in the weeks ahead.

It is a return to a style that many Kenyans will recognise.

But this time, the police leadership hopes the change will mean more than simply replacing deep blue with a lighter shade.

The real test will be whether a new uniform comes with better-equipped officers, higher morale and a stronger relationship between the police and the public they serve.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.