Matiang’i Questions KSh2.8 Billion Police Uniform Spending, Calls for Procurement Review

By Monyonge  O’kebati

Jubilee presidential candidate Dr. Fred Matiang’i has raised questions over the government’s decision to spend KSh2.8 billion on new police uniforms, arguing that the expenditure should have been weighed against other pressing needs within the National Police Service.

Matiang’i questioned the priority given to changing police uniforms at a time when, according to him, critical areas including police medical services, insurance and the digitisation of police operations remain inadequately funded.

He also raised concerns over the procurement process, alleging that the company contracted to supply the uniforms was registered in 2024, yet the procurement was undertaken in 2026. He described the alleged circumstances surrounding the tender as evidence of misuse of public resources.

The former Interior Cabinet Secretary said his criticism was informed by his experience in government, recalling procurement proposals he encountered during his tenure that he considered excessively expensive.

He cited a proposal to purchase police boots at about KSh13,000 per pair, despite what he said was a locally manufactured alternative costing approximately KSh4,000.

Matiang’i also recalled a procurement involving bulletproof vests, saying officials had proposed a price of about US$900 per vest before he sought an alternative supplier through government-to-government procurement that offered what he described as a comparable vest for about US$90.

He said such experiences convinced him that public office must not be used as an avenue for conducting private business.

The Jubilee presidential hopeful further questioned the process through which the decision to change the police uniform was reached.

According to Matiang’i, changes to uniforms within the security sector require consultation with the relevant national security structures because uniforms play a role beyond appearance, including security, identification and prevention of impersonation.

He argued that frequent changes could create opportunities for criminals to acquire counterfeit police uniforms and impersonate security officers.

Matiang’i also challenged the government over what he described as a failure to maximise the capacity of local institutions and manufacturers in producing the new uniforms.

He cited institutions such as the National Youth Service and Kenya Prisons Service, alongside Kenya’s wider manufacturing sector, arguing that greater local participation could create employment, strengthen domestic industries and ensure that government expenditure benefits the Kenyan economy.

The former Cabinet Secretary said that, if elected president, his administration would seek to ensure that public procurement delivers value for money and strengthens local production.

His remarks place the police uniform procurement within a broader debate over government spending priorities, transparency in public tenders and the use of public resources.

However, the allegations concerning the tender, pricing and the identity or registration history of the supplier would require verification from the relevant procurement documents and government agencies before being treated as established facts.