Police officers display their new new uniform during the national policing conference at the Kenya School of Government on September 13, 2018.
President William Ruto has announced plans to roll out new police uniforms, an improved insurance scheme and the finalisation of a multibillion equipment modernisation plan, all which he said are aimed at enhancing their service delivery.
The Head of State announced plans to engage the police leadership soon to determine rollout dates for the new uniforms.
“We will engage the police men and women. I know that has been agreed upon, and what is awaiting is for us to roll out and make sure that we keep our police men and women with uniform that gives them an inspiration to work and to have to perform. That is something to roll out,” President Ruto said during the launch of the National Police Service (NPS) strategic plan.
Initially, the National Police Service (NPS) had unveiled the new uniform designs in September, 2023, that will replace the current persian blue regalia, which was introduced in 2018, had phased out the blue police uniform which had been in use for decades.
The September 2023 uniform announced had light blue top and navy blue trousers and sweaters, with name tags permanent sewn above the front right pocket.
After the unveiling in September, the idea of a new uniform disappeared from the news, and it now appears that the President’s order is to pick it up from where the 2023 designs had proposed.
The redesign was intended to increase visibility of officers and create uniformity across all ranks during the merger of the administrative police and the Kenya Police Service.
Currently, officers are free to wear both uniforms until final decision is made on which will be retained.
President Ruto also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the police and enhancing the security infrastructure in Kenya ensuring they are well-equipped and adequately resourced to carry out their constitutional mandate of safeguarding the country.
“I understand very well that our men in uniformed security agencies operate in very difficult circumstances and that is why we are going to go out of our way to make sure that the job that you do, the money that you have, will support you so that you can achieve anything because if you succeed, the security is guaranteed so we will help you to do so," President Ruto said.
"Whether it is making sure that you have a requisite terms of service we will support you. In uniformed housing, medicals, and all the other assets, including equipment and vehicles, we will go out of our way,” the Head of State said.
He highlighted plans to invest Sh28 billion over the next two years to improve police equipment, housing, medical care, and other essential resources.
“We haven't invested in the police in a long way. That's why I make the decision. The next two years, we are going to invest Sh28 billion to enhance the equipment, the personal environment of the police as we give you the tools to be able to extract your responsibility from Kenya, in a constitution that you are going to have,” the Head of State said.
The President stated that the police will go hard and arrest all individuals profiled in connection with cases of femicide.
He commended the police for their efforts in addressing these heinous crimes but emphasized the need for collective action.
"We must respect the police. We must support the police, support the police, so that they can protect our assets, they can protect life, and they can protect our stability. There must be a balance. On the subject of femicide, I must commend the police that they have arrested every person that has been profiled who has engaged in femicide, and they have been charged," President Ruto said.
He called on the religious community and society at large to step up and address the moral issues contributing to such acts, highlighting that law enforcement alone cannot solve these challenges.
“Parents need to do more; the religious community needs to do more as the police do their part. It is not a matter that we can say we leave it to the police, the police will arrest; they will deal with many of those who will have committed the crimes, but as parents who morally should guide the young people in our nation, we should also step up so that we can deal with it from a broader and whole-society approach,” President Ruto said.
The Head of State at the same time urged Kenyans to abide by the rule of law and always respect and cooperate with the security agencies.
“We have absolutely no reason, and there is no other way. This country must be secured. All other things, all other engagements, and any other progress cannot happen unless we have peace, security, and stability,” he said.
