NPS Rejects Claims Linking Nalitex to KSh 2.8 Billion Police Uniform Deal
Only Bedi and Rivatex submitted samples within the given deadline. After evaluation and public participation, Bedi’s sample was selected and approved through the relevant security channels.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
The National Police Service has dismissed as false and malicious reports connecting Nalitex Limited to the KSh 2.8 billion tender for new Kenya Police General Duty uniforms, insisting the company had no involvement at any stage of the process.
In a statement released on Saturday, August 30, 2026, NPS Director of Corporate Communication Muchiri Nyaga said the Service was disturbed by media reports that had wrongly brought Nalitex into the procurement.
“The NPS is particularly concerned that the media reports have introduced an entity referred to as Nalitex Limited into the procurement and manufacture of the new police uniform, yet the said entity does not feature anywhere in the NPS process relating to its development, selection, procurement or manufacture,” the statement said.
According to the NPS, Bedi Investments Limited was awarded the contract to manufacture and stitch the new uniforms after its sample emerged successful following evaluation and public participation.
The Service explained that the decision to change the General Duty uniform was not a recent or arbitrary move. It originated from recommendations of the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga. Officers were consulted and largely expressed dissatisfaction with the previous uniform, with many favouring a return to earlier colour schemes.
“The change was therefore neither sudden nor arbitrary, but one of several measures arising from the broader police reform process,” the statement noted.
The Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards to develop technical standards for the new attire. Four local textile manufacturers with prior experience supplying police uniform materials were invited to submit samples: Bedi Investments Limited, Rivatex East Africa Limited, Thika Textile Mills Limited and Sunflag Textiles & Knitwear Mills.
Only Bedi and Rivatex submitted samples within the given deadline. After evaluation and public participation, Bedi’s sample was selected and approved through the relevant security channels.
The subsequent procurement was carried out in line with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, and related regulations. Bedi Investments Limited was formally awarded the manufacturing and stitching contract.
NPS was clear that Nalitex played no part. “For the avoidance of doubt, the entity referred to in the media reports 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,” the Service stated.
The clarification comes as the new sky-blue shirts and navy-blue trousers begin rolling out to General Duty officers, replacing the Persian-blue uniform introduced in 2018, amid public questions over cost and process.
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