Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has challenged the government to explain whether Kenya is getting the best value for money from the rollout of the new police uniform unveiled by President William Ruto. Matiang’i says the state should make better use of existing public institutions before turning to external suppliers for goods and services.
Highlights
- Matiang’i questioned government spending on the latest police uniform rollout.
- He said public institutions should be considered before outsourcing government work.
- He cited the National Youth Service as part of his approach during the previous uniform change.
- Ruto unveiled the latest Kenya Police Service uniform at Kiganjo.
- The new uniform has sparked debate over procurement costs and transparency.
Main Story
Matiang’i Questions Public Spending
Former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has raised questions over the government’s spending on Kenya’s newly introduced police uniform.
In a statement shared on X on Monday, August 31, 2026, Matiang’i argued that the government should not automatically turn to external suppliers when state institutions already possess the skills, facilities and personnel needed to deliver certain services.
According to the former CS, better coordination of existing government resources can help reduce costs while also strengthening local capacity.
“Government does not always have to buy everything,” Matiang’i said.
Lessons From the Previous Uniform Change
Matiang’i pointed to the police uniform changes implemented during his tenure as Interior CS as an example of an alternative approach.
He said his administration assessed capabilities already available within public institutions and looked for ways to put them to better use.
The National Youth Service was among the institutions involved, drawing on its vocational and technical training capacity.
Matiang’i also said the government worked with other public institutions and private-sector companies, combining existing skills, equipment and facilities to support the project.
He argued that the approach helped contain expenditure while simultaneously building local expertise and creating opportunities for Kenyans.
‘Coordinate Existing Capacity’
The former CS said the experience demonstrated that government can sometimes achieve its objectives without purchasing everything from outside suppliers.
His argument is that public institutions may already have much of what is required, but stronger coordination is needed to unlock that capacity.
For Matiang’i, the question surrounding the latest police uniform should therefore go beyond its design and appearance.
Ruto Unveils New Police Uniform
Matiang’i’s comments come after President William Ruto unveiled a new Kenya Police Service uniform at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County.
The new design brings back a more familiar look, featuring a sky-blue shirt paired with dark-blue trousers.
It replaces the predominantly blue uniform introduced in 2018.
The National Police Service has defended the change, saying the new design followed consultations involving police officers and members of the public.
Authorities say the new outfit is intended to boost officers’ morale while promoting professionalism within the service.
Procurement Debate Takes Centre Stage
Despite the government’s justification for the change, the rollout has generated questions over the amount of money being spent and how the procurement process was handled.
Opposition figures have called for greater transparency around the exercise, putting government procurement practices under renewed scrutiny.
Matiang’i has now widened that conversation by asking whether Kenya is making the most efficient use of resources already available within the public sector.
“And as we discuss another change of police uniforms today, we should ask a bigger question: Are we getting the greatest possible value from the resources available to us?” he posed.
The debate therefore goes beyond whether the new uniform looks better or improves officers’ morale. It also raises questions about how government projects are planned, procured and delivered and whether taxpayers are receiving maximum value from public funds.
Beyond the colour of a police uniform lies a bigger question for taxpayers: how much value should Kenya expect from every shilling spent by government?
