Editor's Review

Reports had suggested that the tender to supply the uniform attracted billions, prompting NPS's clarification.

The National Police Service (NPS) has sought to set the record straight regarding the procurement process of the new general duty police uniforms. 

The new set of uniforms was unveiled by President William Ruto during a passing-out parade for thousands of Police Training College, Kiganjo graduates on Friday, August 28. 

Under the new design, officers will wear sky-blue shirts paired with dark blue trousers and berets, alongside a new dress design for female officers.

The changes attracted media scrutiny, with some reports linking the winning supplier to Ruto and others quoting the tender's value at KSh3 billion.

In a statement on Sunday, August 30, the NPS dismissed the reports as inaccurate.

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"The National Police Service (NPS) has noted with serious concern recent media reports concerning the procurement and manufacture of the new Kenya Police Service General Duty uniform," the statement read.

The NPS said the entity named in several of the reports, Nalitex Limited, has no connection to the process.

The foregoing brand had allegedly been favoured in the tender process, with a section of print media suggesting it had links with the head of state.

The NPS argued otherwise.

"We are particularly concerned that the media reports have introduced an entity referred to as Nalitex Limited into the procurement and manufacture of the new police uniform, yet the said entity does not feature anywhere in the NPS process relating to its development, selection, procurement or manufacture," said the service's spokesperson, Muchiri Nyaga.

President William Ruto at Police Training College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, where new police uniforms were unveiled.

According to the NPS, the contract was instead awarded to a different firm entirely.

It argued that the tendering process was competitive, with M/s Bedi Investments Limited having satisfied all the requirements, hence the award; this after four textile firms were invited to bid, namely: Bedi Investments Limited, Rivatex East Africa Limited, Thika Textile Mills Limited, and Sunflag Textiles & Knitwear Mills.

Of the foregoing, the NPS said only two responded within the required timeframe.

The service noted that Bedi’s design was approved and the company awarded the contract to produce the new police uniforms under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.  

"For clarity, the new police uniforms are being manufactured by M/s Bedi Investments Limited, which was lawfully awarded the contract by the National Police Service," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the NPS said the decision to alter the General Duty uniform did not originate with the current procurement but stemmed from a broader reform process.

The service added that the change was driven by officers themselves.

"During consultations, police officers overwhelmingly expressed dissatisfaction with the existing uniform and a preference for change. The Task Force subsequently recommended reverting to the previous uniform colours. The change was therefore neither sudden nor arbitrary, but one of several measures arising from the broader police reform process," the NPS said.

Following the task force's recommendations, the service worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to develop specifications for the new uniform.

The NPS detailed the process through which the eventual supplier was selected, saying it was tied to local manufacturing.

The service dismissed media claims linking Nalitex Limited to the tender, stressing that the firm never participated, was not awarded, subcontracted, or paid.

Its statement did not, however, confirm or deny the reported KSh3 billion value, nor spotlight the accurate value for the tender.