The National Police Service (NPS) has broken its silence on the controversy surrounding the procurement of the new Kenya Police Service General Duty uniform, denying claims linking an entity known as Nalitex Limited to the multi-million shilling process.
In a statement issued on Sunday, August 30, 2026, the Office of the Inspector General sought to explain how the decision to replace the police uniform was reached, how manufacturers were selected, and why Bedi Investments Limited ultimately secured the contract.
The clarification comes amid growing public scrutiny and media reports over the manufacture and procurement of the new police uniforms.
So, why did Kenya change the police uniform?
According to the NPS, the decision to change the General Duty uniform did not originate from a sudden procurement decision.
Instead, the Service says the matter was part of the broader police reform agenda considered by the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga.
During consultations conducted as part of the reform process, police officers reportedly expressed widespread dissatisfaction with the existing uniform and indicated a preference for a change.
The task force subsequently recommended a return to the previous police uniform colours.
βThe change was therefore neither sudden nor arbitrary,β the NPS said, maintaining that the new uniform was among several reforms proposed through the wider police reform process.
How was the new uniform developed?
After the reform process, the Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee was tasked with developing specifications for the new attire.
The committee worked jointly with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to establish the standards required for the new General Duty uniform.
The process was also designed to promote local manufacturing under the government’s 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
- Sunflag Textiles & Knitwear Mills
However, according to the NPS, only Bedi Investments Limited and Rivatex East Africa Limited submitted samples within the stipulated timeline.
Why was Bedi Investments selected?
The NPS says the samples submitted by the two companies were subjected to evaluation and public participation.
Following the assessment process, the sample manufactured by Bedi Investments Limited was selected and approved through the relevant security structures.
The Service says the subsequent procurement process was then conducted under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, alongside applicable procurement regulations.
Bedi Investments Limited was eventually awarded the contract to manufacture and stitch the new General Duty uniforms.
Where does Nalitex Limited come in?
This is the central issue the NPS sought to address in its Sunday statement.
The police service said Nalitex Limited has been mentioned in recent media reports in connection with the new uniform procurement but insisted that the company does not appear anywhere in its records relating to the process.
According to the NPS, Nalitex:
- Did not participate in the development or selection of the uniform;
- Was not involved in the procurement process;
- Was not awarded the contract;
- Was not engaged as a subcontractor;
- Did not receive any purchase order from the NPS; and
- Has not received payment from the police service.
The NPS described the alleged association between Nalitex and the police uniform procurement as βfalse and maliciousβ.
What is the police service saying about scrutiny?
While strongly denying the alleged link to Nalitex, the NPS said it was open to legitimate public and media scrutiny regarding the use of public resources.
However, it maintained that such scrutiny must be based on βcomplete, accurate and verifiable factsβ.
βThe National Police Service welcomes legitimate media and public scrutiny of the use of public resources. Such scrutiny must, however, be anchored in complete, accurate and verifiable facts,β the statement said.
The clarification now places the spotlight on the documented procurement trail, with the NPS maintaining that Bedi Investments Limited is the company legally awarded the contract after a process that began with police reforms, development of uniform standards, submission of samples and subsequent procurement.
Bottom line
The NPS is making three key arguments: the decision to change the police uniform emerged from the police reform agenda; Bedi Investments Limited won the contract after the selection and procurement process; and Nalitex Limited had no role whatsoever in the procurement or manufacture of the uniforms.
The statement is the clearest response yet from the police service as questions continue to be raised over the procurement of the new uniform and the entities allegedly involved in its production.
