Ruto Challenges Kenyans to Criticise New Police Uniforms Based on Facts
President William Ruto has challenged Kenyans to raise their concerns about the country’s new police uniforms using facts, evidence and truth, as debate over the new design continues to attract public attention.
Ruto said the new uniforms introduced for general duty police officers should not be seen as a stand-alone change. Instead, he explained that the new attire is part of a wider programme aimed at transforming and modernising the National Police Service (NPS).
Speaking on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the National Police College in Embakasi, Nairobi, Ruto said the design of the new uniforms was developed after consultations involving police officers and members of the public.
According to the President, several factors were considered when designing the uniforms, including the professional identity of police officers, their operational needs and the need to promote dignity and pride within the police service.
Ruto acknowledged that the new uniforms have attracted criticism from different sections of the public. However, he maintained that the debate should be based on accurate information rather than speculation, rumours or unverified claims.
“A uniform alone cannot transform policing, but professional identity and pride are part of building a modern, disciplined and effective Police Service,” Ruto said.
The President explained that the uniform should be understood as one part of a much broader police reform programme being implemented by his administration.
He said the government’s reforms in the National Police Service cover several areas, including police officers’ salaries and remuneration, welfare, housing, training, equipment, technology, infrastructure and the overall institutional capacity of the service.
Ruto also told Kenyans that they have every right to question government decisions, including how public money is being spent on police reforms.
He stressed that the reforms are being carried out in the public interest and are being financed using taxpayers’ money. For that reason, he said, every decision and expenditure involved in the programme should be open to public scrutiny and accountability.
“We welcome scrutiny of every decision and every shilling spent. Accountability is a constitutional obligation and must rest on facts, evidence and truth,” the President said.
Ruto noted that the success of the police reforms should ultimately not be judged by the appearance of the uniforms alone.
He said the real measure of a professional police service would be how officers perform their duties and respond to the needs of ordinary Kenyans.
According to the President, police officers must be able to respond promptly when members of the public call for help, enforce the law fairly and without fear or favour, protect vulnerable people and respect the dignity and rights of every individual.
He added that police officers should treat all Kenyans equally before the law, regardless of their background or social status.
The President’s remarks come at a time when the new police uniforms have generated significant discussion across the country, with Kenyans raising questions about their design, cost and the process through which they were acquired.
Some members of the public have questioned whether changing police uniforms should have been given priority at a time when officers continue to face concerns over welfare, working conditions, housing, equipment and other challenges.
There have also been questions surrounding the cost of the uniforms and the tendering process used to procure them, with some Kenyans calling for greater transparency over how public funds were spent.
At the same time, the new uniforms have faced criticism over their appearance. Some Kenyans have described the design as unattractive or poorly done, while others have questioned the choice of colours.
In particular, some members of the public have pointed out that the combination of sky blue and dark blue makes the new police uniforms look similar to the field clothing commonly associated with technicians working for Kenya Power.
Despite the criticism, the government maintains that the uniforms form part of a wider effort to improve professionalism, identity and working conditions within the National Police Service.
The ongoing debate is therefore likely to continue as Kenyans assess whether the wider police reforms will deliver meaningful improvements in policing, accountability and service delivery beyond the introduction of new uniforms.
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