Blue uniform fades too fast, police lament to Murkomen

A policewoman has raised concerns over the quality and distribution of police uniforms, urging Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to address the matter.

Speaking during an engagement forum on Friday, the officer said the blue police uniforms fade after a single wash, making them unsuitable for service use.

“This material fades very easily, especially this blue one. One wash, it’s done,” she said.

She further called for changes in how uniforms are distributed, noting that unlike chiefs who now collect their uniforms at the sub-county level, police officers are required to obtain theirs from the headquarters quartermaster.

“For the police officers, the quartermaster is at the headquarters. So if it can be similar to the NGAO officers, let it also be done at the sub-county level or at the county level," she said.

"This also reduces the costs, the transport costs going for the uniforms at the headquarters, at the region, at the county. It’s that expensive."

The officer requested that future procurements ensure better quality materials are used, saying this would not only serve officers better but also reduce long-term costs for the service.

The all-persian blue police uniform was unveiled by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018. 

The uniform includes persian-blue shirt / blouse, persian-blue pair of trousers and a beret with the same colour.

At the time, the government said this was to enhance the visibility of the police and create uniformity across all ranks during the merger of the Administration Police and the Kenya Police.

In 2023, the National Police Service (NPS) announced the a new uniform, which Japhet Koome debutted in February the same year.

The proposed new uniforms featured a light blue shirt and navy blue pants for both genders.

Additional features on the new uniform included the Kenya Police logo on the left hand and the Kenyan flag on the right.

The uniform also have inbuilt name tags that do not give police officers the room to remove. 

Other accessories included sweaters, trench coats and reflectors accompanying the uniform.