President William Ruto has officially commissioned a redesigned uniform for General Duty officers in the Kenya Police Service, replacing the predominantly dark-blue attire that has been in use with a light sky-blue shirt paired with deep navy-blue trousers that will be introduced gradually across the country. Ruto unveiled the new attire on Friday, August 28, 2026, during a ceremony at the National Police College Main Campus in Kiganjo, Nyeri County. The first officers to wear the new uniform will be the more than 6,000 recruits who graduated from the police training institution during the passing-out parade.

The nationwide rollout is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 31, with the transition expected to take place in phases. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said the redesign followed recommendations from a public participation exercise conducted in 2023. Police officers and members of the public were given an opportunity to provide views on the design and suitability of police uniforms. The new uniform applies specifically to General Duty officers in the Kenya Police Service. It does not immediately replace uniforms used by every formation within the National Police Service.

Officers serving in the Administration Police Service and General Service Unit (GSU) will retain their existing uniforms under the current arrangement. The change therefore does not mean that all police officers in Kenya will immediately appear in the new colours. The redesigned uniform is intended to establish a new standard of dress for General Duty officers while maintaining distinctions between different formations of the National Police Service.

The rollout also comes as thousands of newly trained officers prepare to begin deployment to various parts of the country. The National Police Service has said the transition will be conducted progressively rather than requiring all existing officers to change their uniforms at once. For members of the public, the most visible effect will be the gradual replacement of the traditional General Duty uniform with the new sky-blue and navy combination.

The change follows a process that began with consultations on police attire and has now reached the implementation stage. Police officers will continue performing their normal duties under the new uniform, while specialised units will maintain their designated attire. The new design is therefore primarily a change in the standard appearance of General Duty officers and does not represent a restructuring of the different formations within the National Police Service.