The National Police Service (NPS) has denied corruption allegations surrounding the award of the tender for the new General Duty police uniforms launched recently, making it clear that its procurement process was conducted in accordance with the law.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement on Sunday, August 30, the police dismissed recent reports linking a company identified as Nalitex Limited to the procurement and manufacture of the new Kenya Police Service uniform.

Following the widespread reports, NPS named the company behind the contract, identifying it as Bedi  Investments Limited.  The police service said the previously mentioned company did not feature anywhere in the process.

“The entity referred to in the media reports as Nalitex Limited did not participate at any stage of the procurement process; was neither awarded the contract nor engaged as a subcontractor; and has received no purchase order or payment from the NPS,” NPS stated.

📌 What You Need to Know

"For clarity, the new police uniforms are being manufactured by M/s Bedi Investments Limited, which was lawfully awarded the contract by the National Police Service," it added.

On allegations that the police uniforms were changed to allow for corruption deals, NPS explained that the decision to change the General Duty uniform was made as part of the wider police reform programme and preceded the procurement process.

According to the Service, the change followed recommendations by the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga, after consultations in which police officers expressed dissatisfaction with the existing uniform and preferred a change.

The Task Force subsequently recommended reverting to the previous uniform colours, with the NPS maintaining that the decision was therefore not sudden or arbitrary.

"Following the reform process, the Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to develop the required standards for the new uniform," the police added.

According to the police, four Kenyan textile manufacturers with previous experience supplying police uniform material were then invited to submit samples as part of efforts to promote local manufacturing under the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya initiative, before Bedi Investments was finally awarded the tender.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke