NAIROBI, Kenya- The police reforms taskforce chaired by retired Chief Justice David Maraga recommended that the National Police Service revert to its old uniform for three years before designing and adopting a new one.
The recommendation is contained in the taskforce report released by Maraga on Monday, August 31, 2026. The report was handed to President William Ruto on November 16, 2023, after the taskforce completed its review of reforms affecting the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and National Youth Service.
The taskforce said its recommendation on police uniforms followed complaints about the quality and supply of uniforms received during its consultations.
It said there was overwhelming support for the return to the previous uniform from members of the public, police officers and the leadership of the National Police Service.
The report consequently recommended that the NPS revert to its old uniform for three years. During that period, the taskforce proposed that a process of designing a new uniform should begin in accordance with the standards set out in the report.
The taskforce also recommended the establishment of a National Uniforms Committee through legislation.
The committee would comprise representatives from the disciplined and security services and would be responsible for approving the standards, colours and quality of uniforms used by each service.
The report further recommended that the committee address the misuse of police uniforms by members of the public.
The recommendation came after the taskforce assessed the nature, quality and standards of uniforms used by the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service.
The issue had also featured in consultations before the report was completed, with the National Police Service Commission supporting a return to the old uniform for general-duty police officers.
The current police uniform has undergone several changes in recent years. The deep-blue uniform was introduced after the previous administration phased out the older police attire, while a new navy-blue uniform was rolled out in December 2023.
The National Police Service has since introduced another General Duty uniform, with the latest changes forming part of the service’s current uniform arrangements.
The Maraga taskforce’s recommendation remains that the service should return to the old uniform for three years while work begins on developing another uniform under the proposed National Uniforms Committee.
The uniform recommendation forms part of a wider set of reforms contained in the report covering police recruitment, promotions, deployment, human-resource management, welfare, accountability and institutional structures.
President William Ruto unveiled Kenya’s redesigned General Duty police uniform on August 28 during a passing-out parade at the National Police College in Kiganjo.
General Duty officers began wearing the new attire on Monday, August 31, with Inspector General Douglas Kanja confirming a phased nationwide rollout.
The new design features a lighter blue shirt and dark-blue trousers, while the Administration Police Service and General Service Unit will retain their current uniforms.
The change has already drawn questions over the procurement process, with the National Police Service saying Bedi Investments Limited was lawfully awarded the manufacturing contract and denying reports linking Nalitex Limited to the tender.
The rollout comes as Maraga’s police reforms report recommends that the service revert to its old uniform for three years before designing a new one.
