Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i has accused individuals within the Kenya Kwanza administration of using the planned procurement of new police uniforms to profit from public funds. Matiang’i claimed that some senior government officials were using companies linked to them as channels to secure contracts for supplying the new police uniforms at inflated prices. The former Interior Cabinet Secretary questioned the decision to spend billions of shillings on uniforms when government institutions have the capacity to manufacture them locally.
Matiang’i Questions Ksh.2.8 Billion Uniform Budget
Matiang’i argued that the proposed Ksh.2.8 billion allocation for new Kenya Police General Duty uniforms could be redirected to other areas of public service delivery. He said institutions such as the National Youth Service (NYS) and the Kenya Police Service (KPS) could work together with local manufacturers to produce the uniforms, while also supporting Kenyan industries through the purchase of locally manufactured materials.
Some things are shameful. We have the capacity through the NYS, KPS, and other institutions to make the uniforms
Dr Fred Matiang’iHe further alleged that a company registered in 2024 was being positioned to benefit from the procurement, describing the arrangement as a possible avenue for the misuse of public resources. Matiang’i claimed that the involvement of companies associated with senior government officials would amount to a conflict of interest.
NPS Denies Nalitex Link to Uniform Tender
The National Police Service (NPS) has, however, denied reports linking Nalitex Limited to the Ksh.2.8 billion police uniform tender. According to the NPS, Nalitex had no involvement in the procurement process, with the contract instead awarded to Bedi Investments Limited.
Matiang’i also compared the current uniform procurement with the changes introduced during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration in 2018. He recalled facing pressure from individuals who, he claimed, sought to influence government procurement processes for personal benefit.
Matiang’i Raises Concerns Over Inflated Security Equipment Prices
The Jubilee leader also cited previous procurement deals involving security equipment to illustrate what he described as excessive pricing in government contracts. He claimed that a supplier had previously been awarded a contract to provide police boots at approximately Ksh.13,900 per pair, despite similar boots being available locally for around Ksh.4,000.
Matiang’i further recalled concerns over the cost of bulletproof vests, saying the government had been quoted approximately $900 (Ksh.116,505) per vest before a government-to-government arrangement brought the price down to about $90 (Ksh.11,650). According to Matiang’i, such experiences demonstrate the need for greater scrutiny of government procurement and increased reliance on local production.
Former Interior CS Says Local Production Can Save Money
Matiang’i also pointed to the previous production of police uniforms by the NYS, saying the initiative had enabled the government to save more than Ksh.700 million. He maintained that government institutions should be empowered to manufacture uniforms and other security-related equipment instead of outsourcing contracts where local capacity already exists.
The Jubilee presidential flagbearer alleged that some individuals who previously sought to influence procurement decisions are now in positions of power and are benefiting from government contracts. He argued that the government should prioritise public interest and value for money when making procurement decisions.
Kenya Police Uniforms Changed Three Times in Under Nine Years
The planned rollout of the latest police uniforms has also generated public debate, with Kenya having witnessed three major changes to police attire in less than nine years. In 2018, former President Uhuru Kenyatta unveiled the all-Persian blue police uniform. The uniform was later changed in 2023, when police officers were introduced to a combination featuring light-blue shirts and navy-blue trousers.
In August 2026, the government unveiled another design featuring sky-blue shirts, dark-blue trousers and berets for approximately 60,000 General Duty police officers. The latest changes have sparked discussions over the cost of replacing uniforms and whether resources could instead be directed towards other needs within the National Police Service.
