Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja says the newly launched Kenya Police Service uniforms will boost officers’ pride, confidence and morale as they carry out their duties across the country.
Kanja spoke on Friday, August 28, 2026, during the passing-out parade for police recruits at the National Police College Main Campus in Kiganjo, Nyeri County.
He said the introduction of the new uniforms was part of broader reforms aimed at improving the welfare, working environment and professionalism of police officers.
“The new uniforms for the Kenya Police Service that we have just launched will bring pride, confidence, and morale to police officers as they discharge their duties,” Kanja said.
Wider Police Reforms
The launch comes as the National Police Service implements a broader modernisation programme targeting equipment, transport, housing, remuneration and personnel numbers.
Kanja said the service had benefited from an enhanced fleet of transport equipment, improved salaries and an ongoing housing programme for police officers.
He also pointed to improvements in the police-to-population ratio as part of measures being implemented to strengthen the country’s policing capacity.
Focus on Officer Welfare and Professionalism
The Inspector General said the reforms are intended to ensure police officers have the necessary tools, facilities and working conditions to effectively discharge their mandate.
The new uniforms therefore represent more than a change in appearance. Police leadership views them as part of efforts to strengthen institutional identity and improve officers’ confidence and professionalism when interacting with members of the public.
Police Services Shift Towards Digital Systems
The reforms have also extended to services offered to the public.
Kanja revealed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had recently operationalised a modern biometric identification system, reducing the processing time for police clearance certificates from 14 days to one day.
The development is part of efforts to make police services faster and more efficient while reducing delays for members of the public seeking clearance certificates.
New Uniforms Symbolise Police Transformation
The developments point to an increasingly modernised police service, with reforms targeting both officers’ working conditions and the efficiency of services delivered to the public.
For the Kenya Police Service, the new uniforms are expected to become a visible symbol of that transformation while reinforcing pride, confidence and professionalism among officers as they discharge their duties.
