NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 13 — Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome on Tuesday donned a new police uniform signaling what could be the beginning of the changes in uniforms worn by security personnel in the country.
On Monday, Koome and a few junior officers donned the new uniform.
The new development comes even as the National Taskforce on Police and Prisons Reforms led by former Chief Justice David Maraga continues to traverse the country to collect views on the improvement of police welfare.
The task team’s mandate entails reviewing police uniform.
In recent weeks some police officers have reverted to old white and navy blue skirts for female officers and light blue shirts with navy blue trousers for male officers.
The National Police Service had proposed the return of the old uniform replaced by the persian blue uniform during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime two years ago.
The changes also saw the phasing out of the beige uniforms for senior police officers.
Ruto on police uniforms
President William Ruto, will commenting on anticipated changes in January 2023, said the government will provide police officers with “appropriate uniforms”. He did not elaborate his statement.
“I expect that the uniform that these and women will be given will be of the quality that meets the standards for our police men and women who perform distinguished security functions in the Republic of Kenya,” Ruto said on January 10 when he presided over the passing out parade of 2,881 police officers at the National Police College Main Campus — Kiganjo.
During the 2022 campaign period, Deputy President Rigahti Gachagua told police officers that the Kenya Kwanza administration would reverse the introduction of the persian blue.
He suggested the uniforms implemented under the leadership of then Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and his Principal Secretary at the time Karanja Kibicho were unpopular among police officers.
“This color belongs to the Women’s Guild of PCEA Church,” he said in an apparent jibe at Matiangi and Kibicho.
