The National Police Service has denied media reports linking Nalitex Limited to the procurement and manufacture of the new Kenya Police Service General Duty uniform, saying the company did not take part in the process.
The NPS said the new uniforms are being manufactured by Bedi Investments Limited, which was awarded the contract after a procurement process involving four Kenyan textile manufacturers.
“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 Service said.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said Bedi Investments was “lawfully awarded the contract” by the National Police Service.
The Service said the decision to change the General Duty uniform was made before procurement began and formed part of a wider police reform programme considered by the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga.
According to the NPS, police officers consulted during the reform process overwhelmingly expressed dissatisfaction with the existing uniform and preferred a change.
The task force subsequently recommended reverting to the previous uniform colours.
“The change was therefore neither sudden nor arbitrary, but one of several measures arising from the broader police reform process,” the NPS said.
Following the recommendations, the Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to develop the required standards for the new uniform.
Four local textile manufacturers with previous experience supplying police uniform material were then invited to submit samples.
They were Bedi Investments Limited, Rivatex East Africa Limited, Thika Textile Mills Limited and Sunflag Textiles & Knitwear Mills.
The NPS said only Bedi Investments and Rivatex submitted samples within the stipulated period. Following evaluation and public participation, Bedi Investments' sample was adopted and approved through the relevant security structures.
The subsequent procurement was conducted under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, and applicable regulations and procedures, the Service said.
It added that Nalitex neither participated in the procurement process nor received a contract, subcontract or purchase order from the NPS.
“This association is false and malicious,” the Service said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, 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.”
The NPS said it welcomed legitimate scrutiny of the use of public resources but insisted that such scrutiny should be based on “complete, accurate and verifiable facts”.
It said it remained committed to the wider police reform programme, transparency, accountability and responsible use of public resources.