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The National Police Service has clarified who was awarded the contract to manufacture Kenya’s new General Duty police uniforms, following reports that linked another company to the procurement process.
The National Police Service (NPS) has identified Bedi Investments Limited as the company awarded the contract to manufacture and stitch the new Kenya Police Service General Duty uniforms.
The clarification was issued on Sunday, August 30, 2026, after reports circulating in the media linked Nalitex Limited to the procurement of the new uniforms.
The NPS said Nalitex did not participate in the development, selection, procurement or manufacture of the uniforms and was neither awarded the contract nor appointed as a subcontractor. The Service also said the company had not received a purchase order or payment from the NPS in relation to the uniforms.
According to the Service, Bedi Investments Limited was lawfully awarded the contract following a procurement process involving Kenyan textile manufacturers.
The NPS said four manufacturers were invited to submit samples:
Bedi Investments Limited
Rivatex East Africa Limited
Thika Textile Mills Limited
Sunflag Textiles & Knitwear Mills
Of the four companies invited, the NPS said Bedi Investments and Rivatex East Africa submitted samples within the stipulated period.
The samples were subsequently evaluated, with the Bedi Investments sample selected and approved through the relevant process, including public participation.
The Service said the subsequent procurement was conducted under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, together with applicable regulations and procedures.
The controversy surrounding the uniforms intensified after reports identified Nalitex Limited as being connected to the procurement.
The NPS rejected that connection.
The Service said Nalitex did not participate at any stage of the procurement process, was not awarded the contract, was not engaged as a subcontractor and had not received a purchase order or payment from the police service.
The NPS described the reports linking the company to the procurement as inaccurate and urged the public and media to rely on complete and verifiable information when discussing the tender.
The clarification means that, according to the official NPS account, Bedi Investments Limited is the company responsible for manufacturing and stitching the new General Duty uniforms.
The NPS also provided details about the origins of the uniform change.
According to the Service, the decision to change the General Duty uniform was made before the procurement process and formed part of a broader police reform programme.
The reforms included recommendations from the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga.
The NPS said consultations with police officers found dissatisfaction with the existing uniform and support for a change.
The Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee subsequently worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to develop standards for the new uniform.
The new uniform was publicly unveiled during a police passing-out parade at Kiganjo Police Training College in Nyeri County on August 28, 2026.
President William Ruto attended the ceremony and inspected the new uniforms.
The redesigned General Duty attire includes light-blue shirts paired with dark-blue trousers, replacing the previous General Duty uniform design.
The new design also includes changes to the attire worn by female officers.
The rollout forms part of the wider changes being implemented within the National Police Service.
The NPS account provides a clearer picture of how the manufacturer was selected.
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturers invited | 4 Kenyan textile companies |
| Companies named by NPS | Bedi Investments, Rivatex, Thika Textile Mills, Sunflag |
| Samples submitted on time | Bedi Investments and Rivatex |
| Selected sample | Bedi Investments |
| Final manufacturer named by NPS | Bedi Investments Limited |
| Other company mentioned in reports | Nalitex Limited |
| NPS position on Nalitex | Not involved in the procurement |
The Service said the process was intended to support local manufacturing under the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya approach.
The police service's clarification comes amid public and media scrutiny of the cost and procurement of the new uniforms.
Some reports have cited different figures for the value of the procurement. The NPS statement, however, focused on correcting the identity of the company involved in the contract and explaining the procurement process.
The Service said it supports legitimate scrutiny of public procurement but called for reporting based on accurate and verifiable information.
The NPS has therefore placed its official position on record: Bedi Investments Limited was awarded the contract to manufacture and stitch the new General Duty police uniforms, while Nalitex Limited was not involved in the procurement process.
The new uniforms are now being rolled out following their unveiling at Kiganjo.
The procurement clarification is expected to provide a basis for further discussion about the process, the implementation of the uniform reforms and the use of public funds.
For now, the National Police Service's position is that the procurement followed the required procedures and that Bedi Investments Limited—not Nalitex Limited—is the contracted manufacturer of the new General Duty uniforms.
The new attire is part of a wider police reform programme that the NPS says followed consultations with officers and recommendations from the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms.
