Ruto Unveils New Kenya Police Uniform as 6,000 Recruits Join Service

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s police service is getting a new look, but the government says the change is about more than appearance.

President William Ruto on Friday unveiled a new uniform for General Duty officers in the Kenya Police Service, replacing the deep navy-blue outfit that has been in use in recent years.

The new design features a sky-blue shirt, dark-blue trousers and a blue beret, with female officers also expected to have a dress option.

The change was unveiled at the National Police Service Training College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, where more than 6,000 newly trained police constables passed out and became the first officers to wear the new attire.

The wider rollout is expected to begin on Monday, August 31, before the uniform is progressively issued to other General Duty officers across the country.

But two of Kenya’s other major police formations will not be changing their look.

The Administration Police Service (APS) and General Service Unit (GSU) will retain their existing operational uniforms.

Why Kenya is changing the uniform

The uniform change follows a public participation process conducted in 2023, during which police officers and members of the public were invited to give their views on police attire.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said officers had raised concerns about the deep-blue uniform and preferred a design that better suited their working conditions.

Kanja described the new outfit as a return to a design that had previously been agreed upon.

“We have been using the blue, the deep blue one, so we have just reverted back to the one that was agreed upon,” he said ahead of Friday’s ceremony.

The National Police Service had previously outlined new General Duty uniforms as part of wider reforms affecting the structure and operations of the service. Its reform documents specifically identify new uniforms for General Duty police as one of the changes being introduced.

Ruto: A uniform cannot create professionalism

President Ruto used the launch to make a broader point about police reform.

He said changing the uniform would not, on its own, make the police service more professional.

Instead, he pointed to discipline, training, integrity and the conduct of officers as the qualities that would determine how the public experiences the police.

The President said the government had listened to concerns raised by officers about the quality and suitability of their previous attire.

He also urged the new officers to understand that the uniform comes with responsibility.

“Be firm against crime, but faithful to the law. Exercise authority, but remain fully accountable. Preserve order, but protect freedom,” Ruto told the recruits.

His message comes at a particularly important time for Kenya's police service, with the country less than a year away from the 2027 General Election.

More than 6,000 new officers

The uniform launch coincided with the graduation of more than 6,000 police constables who have completed their training at Kiganjo.

Their entry into the service is part of a broader recruitment drive aimed at increasing police numbers after a period in which the National Police Service had gone several years without recruitment on the same scale.

Kanja previously said the additional officers would help address personnel shortages and give the service greater capacity as Kenya prepares for the next election.

The Inspector General has also warned the recruits against allowing themselves to be used by individuals or becoming involved in criminal activity.

That warning reflects one of the bigger questions surrounding the new generation of officers: whether increased numbers will translate into better policing and greater public confidence.

APS and GSU keep their uniforms

The change should not be interpreted as a complete overhaul of uniforms across the National Police Service.

The APS and GSU will continue using their current attire.

The distinction reflects the different roles played by the various formations within the police service. NPS documents have previously set out separate functions and structures for the Kenya Police Service, APS and GSU.

The new attire is therefore primarily a change for General Duty Kenya Police officers, rather than every officer serving under the NPS.

Uniform change comes amid wider police reforms

The new uniform is part of a much wider reform agenda.

The National Police Service has been reorganising its command structures and reviewing how different formations operate. Other areas under reform include community policing, officer welfare, equipment and the deployment of personnel.

Ruto said the government was also working to improve police mobility, surveillance, equipment and digital capabilities.

But for Kenyans, the test of the reforms will ultimately be what happens beyond the uniform.

A new shirt cannot by itself resolve concerns about accountability, excessive use of force, corruption, response times or public trust.

The President acknowledged as much by telling the recruits that the people they encounter while on duty are citizens whose rights they have sworn to protect.

That will be particularly significant as the new officers begin their careers ahead of a politically sensitive election period.

For now, Kenyans will begin seeing a different colour of uniform on their streets from next week.

Whether the change becomes a symbol of a more professional police service will depend less on the colour of the shirt — and more on how the officers wearing it serve the public.

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.