United Opposition principal Fred Matiang’i has challenged the government’s decision to outsource the production of Kenya’s new police uniforms, arguing that existing public institutions could have been used to undertake the work.
Matiang’i, who is also the Jubilee Party’s preferred presidential candidate, said the government should first consider the capacity available within the public sector before spending money to procure services externally.
His remarks came three days after President William Ruto launched the new General Duty police uniform at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County.
“Government does not always have to buy everything,” Matiang’i said in a statement shared on X, reflecting on the approach taken during his time as Interior Cabinet Secretary under the Jubilee administration.
He recalled how the previous government assessed available public-sector capacity before implementing the 2018 police uniform changes.
According to Matiang’i, the National Youth Service (NYS), through its vocational and technical training facilities, was incorporated into the production process.
He said the government also engaged other public institutions alongside private-sector players to make use of existing expertise, equipment and facilities.
Matiang’i argued that the approach helped reduce costs, strengthen local skills and create employment opportunities for Kenyans.
To illustrate his point, the former Interior CS shared footage from the commissioning of NYS facilities used to manufacture the 2018 police uniforms. He said the facilities had the capacity to produce up to 1,000 uniforms each day.
As the government implements another change in police attire, Matiang’i said authorities should examine whether they are making the best use of resources already available within the country.
“As we discuss another change of police uniforms today, we should ask a bigger question: Are we getting the greatest possible value from the resources available to us?” he said.
The latest uniform, unveiled on Friday, August 28, replaces the Persian-blue outfit introduced in 2018.
Under the new design, General Duty officers will wear sky-blue shirts and navy-blue trousers, with male and female officers adopting the same uniform design.
The National Police Service has said the changes followed consultations with police officers and members of the public, as well as recommendations arising from ongoing police reforms.
