NPS Clarifies Procurement of New Police Uniform, Says Bedi Investments Won Contract

The National Police Service (NPS) has clarified the procurement and manufacture of the new Kenya Police Service General Duty uniform, stating that Bedi Investments Limited was lawfully awarded the contract.

The clarification follows recent media reports questioning the procurement and manufacture of the new police uniform and linking another company, Nalitex Limited, to the process.

Muchiri Nyaga, Director of Corporate Communication and Spokesperson, National Police Service through a statement on Sunday, August 30, 2026, said the NPS said Nalitex Limited did not participate in any stage of the procurement process and was neither awarded the contract nor engaged as a subcontractor.

“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,” the NPS stated.

According to the NPS, the process began as part of efforts to support local manufacturing under the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya initiative.

Four Kenyan textile manufacturers with previous experience supplying police uniform material were invited to submit samples.

They were Bedi Investments Limited, Rivatex East Africa Limited, Thika Textile Mills Limited and Sunflag Textiles & Knitwear Mills.

Nyaga said Bedi Investments and Rivatex submitted samples within the stipulated period.

Following evaluation and public participation, the sample produced by Bedi Investments was selected and approved through the relevant security structures.

The subsequent procurement process was conducted in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, together with the applicable regulations and procedures.

The NPS said Bedi Investments was subsequently awarded the contract to manufacture and stitch the new General Duty uniforms.

The Service said the decision to change the General Duty uniform was made before the procurement process and formed part of wider police reforms considered by the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga.

During consultations, police officers reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the existing uniform and supported a change.

The task force subsequently recommended reverting to the previous uniform colours, with the NPS saying the change was therefore part of the wider police reform process rather than an arbitrary decision.

The NPS strongly rejected reports linking Nalitex Limited to the procurement process.

“Against this clear and documented process, the NPS finds it deeply concerning and puzzling that media reports have associated the procurement with an entity that appears nowhere. This association is false and malicious,” the Service said.

The NPS further stated that Nalitex did not participate in the procurement process, was not awarded the contract and was not engaged as a subcontractor.

The company, the Service added, had not received any purchase order or payment from the NPS.

The police Service said it welcomes legitimate media and public scrutiny of the use of public resources but urged journalists and members of the public to rely on complete and verifiable information.

“It is misleading to associate the Service or its procurement processes with an entity that does not feature in the procurement record and had no role in the process,” the NPS stated.

The Service said it remains committed to implementing the wider police reform programme while promoting transparency, accountability and responsible use of public resources.