The National Taskforce on Improvement of the Terms and Conditions of Service and Other Reforms for Members of the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service and National Youth Service recommended that the National Police Service revert to its previous uniform for three years.
The recommendation is contained in the report of the taskforce chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga, which was submitted to President William Ruto in November 2023 and recently released to the public.
The taskforce said the three-year period should provide time to begin designing a new police uniform in line with recommendations contained in the report.
It also called for measures to address the misuse of police uniforms by members of the public.
“As regards the NPS uniforms, in line with the overwhelming views of members of the public, police officers themselves, and the leadership of NPS, the Taskforce recommends that the NPS reverts to its old uniform for a period of three years, during which a process of designing a new uniform should be commenced in accordance with the recommendations in this Report,” the report states.
The taskforce further recommended the establishment of a National Uniforms Committee to oversee standards, colours and quality of uniforms used by disciplined and security services.
The proposed committee would comprise representatives from various disciplined and security services and would be responsible for approving uniform standards for each service.
The report said the recommendation followed numerous complaints regarding the quality and supply of uniforms to members of the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and National Youth Service.
“The Cabinet Secretary for Defence, in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration are urged to develop and propose legislation for the establishment of a National Uniforms Committee composed of representatives from the Disciplined and Security Services,” the report states.
The committee would be mandated to approve the standards, colours and quality of uniforms used by each service.
The taskforce said the move would help address longstanding concerns surrounding the procurement and distribution of uniforms among security agencies.
The recommendation comes days after President William Ruto launched a redesigned General Duty police uniform.
Ruto unveiled the new uniform on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the National Police Service Training College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County.
The launch marked the rollout of a new look for police officers, despite the Maraga-led taskforce having recommended a return to the previous uniform for three years.
The government is estimated to have allocated between Sh2.8 billion and Sh3 billion for the supply of the new uniforms.
A single set of the uniform is estimated to cost about Sh25,000.
The rollout has attracted criticism from opposition leaders, who have questioned whether changing police uniforms should be a government priority at a time when the security sector faces other challenges.
Beyond the issue of uniforms, the Maraga taskforce report also raised concerns over inadequate funding for security agencies.
The taskforce was appointed by President Ruto on December 22, 2022, and comprised 23 members.
Its mandate included reviewing the terms and conditions of service for members of the three security agencies and recommending reforms aimed at improving their welfare and effectiveness.
The taskforce also examined broader institutional and operational challenges affecting the security services.
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