NAIROBI — Kenya has unveiled a redesigned police uniform that includes a dedicated maternity outfit for expectant female officers, in a move officials say is intended to make the service more practical and professional.
President William Ruto unveiled the new General Duty uniform on Friday, August 28, during the passing-out parade of more than 6,000 police recruits at the National Police College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County.
The new uniform replaces the predominantly deep-blue attire introduced in 2018 with a two-tone design featuring a light sky-blue shirt and deep navy-blue trousers. Navy-blue berets or peak caps bearing the police insignia and black service boots complete the standard outfit.
But one of the most notable changes is aimed specifically at female officers.
The redesigned uniform provides special maternity attire for expectant policewomen, allowing officers to remain in official uniform while accommodating changes in their bodies during pregnancy.
The maternity outfits are designed in muted or slate-blue colours that complement the new General Duty uniform. Images from the unveiling showed a maternity dress cut to provide additional room around the abdomen while retaining the colours and appearance associated with the police service.
Kenya Police Service Director of Logistics and Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Peter Ndungu highlighted the provision during the unveiling.
“Your Excellency, as you launch the new uniform, our expectant female officers must also be afforded an opportunity to serve while properly adorned in uniform,” Ndungu said.
The maternity provision is part of a wider overhaul of the General Duty police kit, which officials say followed consultations with officers and members of the public as well as recommendations from the Presidential Task Force on Police Reforms.
President Ruto said police officers had raised concerns about the quality, suitability and professional identity associated with the previous uniform.
“The graduating officers will be the first to wear the new uniform,” Ruto said, adding that it would subsequently be rolled out progressively to General Duty officers across the country.
The new uniform also introduces other practical changes, including updated identification features, the Kenyan flag on the right sleeve and the Kenya Police Service emblem on the left. The new wardrobe includes short- and long-sleeved shirts as well as additional clothing such as sweaters, rainwear and reflective garments for specialised duties.
The nationwide rollout is expected to begin on Monday, August 31, with the newly graduated recruits among the first officers to wear the new design.
The change has nonetheless generated a wider debate in Kenya about what constitutes police reform.
While the government has presented the uniform as part of efforts to modernise the National Police Service and improve officer morale, critics have questioned whether resources should first address issues such as police housing, welfare and working conditions. Reports have also raised questions about the cost and procurement of the new uniforms.
For women officers, however, the maternity provision addresses a more immediate and practical question: how does a profession built around rigid standards of appearance accommodate the changing body of a pregnant officer without forcing her out of uniform?
Kenya’s answer is now hanging in police stations, training colleges and wardrobes across the country — a uniform designed not to hide pregnancy, but to make room for it.
The new attire therefore represents more than a change from dark blue to sky blue. It also reflects an attempt to make the visual identity of the police service fit the people who wear it.