Kenya’s general-duty police officers will begin wearing new uniforms from Monday, August 31, as part of a nationwide change in the National Police Service.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that the new attire will be officially unveiled by President William Ruto on Friday, August 28, during the passing-out ceremony of more than 6,000 police recruits at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo.

The graduating officers will be among the first to wear the new uniforms before the changes are gradually extended to other general-duty officers across the country.

The decision follows recommendations made after a public participation exercise conducted in 2023, during which police officers were given an opportunity to express their views on the uniforms they preferred.

Kanja said the new attire represents a return to a design that had previously been approved after officers expressed a preference for a different uniform.

The nationwide rollout will be carried out in phases over the coming weeks.

The change will initially affect general-duty officers. Officers serving in the Administration Police Service and the General Service Unit will continue using their current uniforms as the new attire is introduced.

Police leadership expects the new uniforms to improve officers’ morale and contribute to better service delivery.

The introduction comes as the National Police Service continues implementing broader reforms aimed at improving its structure, operations and efficiency.

For the newly recruited officers graduating in Kiganjo, the ceremony will therefore mark not only the beginning of their careers but also the start of a new chapter in the appearance of Kenya’s general-duty police force.