NPS denies Ksh2.8B police uniform tender link to Nalitex

The National Police Service (NPS) has denied reports linking Nalitex Limited to the procurement of the new Kenya Police Service General Duty uniforms, saying the company was not involved in the tender at any stage.

The police service described reports linking Nalitex to the tender as false and malicious.

The police service says Bedi Investments Limited was awarded the contract to manufacture and stitch the new uniforms after its sample was selected through a process that included evaluation and public participation.

In a statement issued on Saturday, August 30, NPS Director of Corporate Communication Muchiri Nyaga said the service was concerned by reports that had brought Nalitex into the procurement process.

“The NPS is particularly concerned 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,” read the statement.

The NPS said the decision to change the General Duty uniform was not a recent decision made specifically for the current procurement.Instead, it said the change dates back to the wider police reforms recommended by the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga.

The service said police officers were consulted during the process and overwhelmingly expressed dissatisfaction with the existing uniform, with many preferring a return 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,” said the statement.

The Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee subsequently worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to develop 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.

According to the statement, only Bedi Investments and Rivatex submitted samples within the stipulated period.Following evaluation and public participation, the NPS said the sample produced by Bedi Investments was selected and approved through the relevant security structures.

The police service said the procurement was subsequently conducted under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, and related regulations.

“The subsequent procurement was undertaken in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, the applicable regulations and procedures, and M/s Bedi Investments Limited was awarded the contract to manufacture and stitch the new General Duty uniforms,”said NPS.

The NPS was categorical that Nalitex neither won the contract nor participated in the procurement.

“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,” said NPS.