The National Police Service (NPS) has denied corruption allegations surrounding the award of the tender for the new General Duty police uniforms launched recently, making it clear that its procurement process was conducted in accordance with the law.
In a statement on Sunday, August 30, the police dismissed recent reports linking a company identified as Nalitex Limited to the procurement and manufacture of the new Kenya Police Service uniform.
Following the widespread reports, NPS named the company behind the contract, identifying it as Bedi Investments Limited. The police service said the previously mentioned company did not feature anywhere in the process.
“The entity referred to in the media reports as Nalitex Limited did not participate at any stage of the procurement process; was neither awarded the contract nor engaged as a subcontractor; and has received no purchase order or payment from the NPS,” NPS stated.
President William Ruto inspecting a guard of honour during the passing-out Parade of police recruits in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, on August 28, 2026.
PCS
“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,” it added.
On allegations that the police uniforms were changed to allow for corruption deals, NPS explained that the decision to change the General Duty uniform was made as part of the wider police reform programme and preceded the procurement process.
According to the Service, the change followed recommendations by the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga, after consultations in which police officers expressed dissatisfaction with the existing uniform and preferred a change.
The Task Force subsequently recommended reverting to the previous uniform colours, with the NPS maintaining that the decision was therefore not sudden or arbitrary.
“Following the reform process, the Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to develop the required standards for the new uniform,” the police added.
According to the police, four Kenyan textile manufacturers with previous experience supplying police uniform material were then invited to submit samples as part of efforts to promote local manufacturing under the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya initiative, before Bedi Investments was finally awarded the tender.
The clarification comes days after the new police uniforms were unveiled, with officers expected to begin wearing them as part of the ongoing police reforms.
After President William Ruto launched the new uniforms, tender issues emerged with several media reports linking the first family to the company that was allegedthe tender worth over Ksh2.8 billion.
However, the police have now dismissed these allegations, terming the reports as false and malicious and stating that the company appeared nowhere in the official procurement process.
The new uniform includes a sky blue shirt, navy blue pants, a blue beret or hat, and black boots. They are emblazoned with the Kenya Police Service (KPS) logo on the left sleeve and the Kenyan flag on the right sleeve for easy identification.
Also, for the first time, these uniforms come in a special edition for pregnant and breastfeeding female officers to provide them with ease and comfort while performing their duties.
Launched on Friday, August 28, KPS will start to wear the uniforms on Monday, August 31 and will be changed gradually across all general duty officers in the country in a few weeks.
President William Ruto inspecting a guard of honour during the passing-out Parade of police recruits in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, on August 28, 2026.
PCS
