The Kenya police have adopted a new set of uniform for tests on its use.
Inspector General of police Japhet Koome and a few junior officers donned the new uniform, Monday, February 13.
Officials aware of the developments confirmed the same saying it was under test.
“That is the new uniform for the general duty officers,” the officer said.
The move has sparked discussion on social media. Other units in the National Police Service will maintain their current uniforms.
They include Administration Police Service and General Service Unit which use jungle ones. This comes amid a push to revert to the old uniform for the service from the current deep blue one.
The task force on the improvement of the conditions of service of the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service is collecting views on among others the uniform issue.
Among others, the National Police Service Commission told the task force it wants police to revert to the old police uniform for general duty officers and not the deep blue introduced in 2019.
They noted that the police uniform was not gender-responsive to women police officers during pregnancy, and it was not provided for under the current uniform arrangement.
The Commission recommended a maternity dress allowance of Sh30,000 during pregnancy.
Police had been told they were free to wear the old khaki uniform, which was being phased out since 2018.
The officers will continue using both old and new uniforms pending the outcomes of a task force established to look into police and prison reforms.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga is chairing a 23-member task force that was established to steer reforms in police and prisons.
It will also consider pay and allowances, medical coverage and other welfare issues.
Among others, the team will assess, consider, review and recommend the nature, quality and standard of the uniform for National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) officers as well as that for prisoners-inmates.
Whereas some officers see change as necessary, others say it is political and aimed at profiting some dealers.
The new police uniform was a campaign issue that the current government vowed to change.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said during campaigns the government will revoke the bright blue uniform launched during retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure.
However, former interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho defended the new uniform saying it was a carefully considered choice that was endorsed by the relevant government committee.
He said the Uniform Committee that has the final word on police uniforms approved the blue colour to represent the unified attire following the merger of the Administration Police and the Kenya Police under the Kenya Police Service.
Kibicho said police uniforms were being wholly made in Kenya by local textiles firms based in Thika, Kitui, Nakuru and Eldoret under a Buy Kenya, Build Kenya government drive that had also significantly cut costs.
This enabled the hiring of more officers and the modernisation of police equipment.
The committee consisted mostly of officials from security agencies and was chaired by the vice chief of Kenya Defence Forces. Other members included a representative from National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and National Youth Service.