Kenyan police officers ‘told to buy their own uniforms’

A section of police officers in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, have been buying their own uniforms from civilian tailors to comply with an alleged order to wear new-look uniforms despite lack of supplies, local media report.

The police officers were reportedly told to wear the new uniforms starting on Monday. Some officers who reported to work in the old uniform were turned back, the Daily Nation and Standard newspapers report.

The National Police Service and the interior ministry have not responded to the reports.

Police officers interviewed told reporters that they had not been issued with the new-look uniforms, but were directed to civilian tailors who charge up to 5,000 Kenyan shillings ($50; £40) for a pair, according to the Daily Nation newspaper.

Some officers have opted to stay at home following the new directive because they lack funds to purchase the uniforms.

The new persian blue uniforms were launched in 2018 as part of police reforms:

PRESIDENT KENYATTA announces major national police service reform which among other issues abolishes OCPD position, Introduces Ward Commanders and creates new uniforms for general duty police, housing allowances. AP unit to focus on border control; Kenya Police on public safety pic.twitter.com/VFjjXB4ZPx

— Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) (@CofekRebranded) September 13, 2018