Cartels after the new police uniforms deal, Matiang’i claims

Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has refuted claims that there is a shortage of material for the newly-launched police uniforms, terming it as a ploy by business cartels aiming at making a kill by importing it.

Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, the Interior CS said top security officials have been under pressure from powerful businessmen seeking to create material shortage in a bid to win tenders for the persian blue uniforms.

“The Inspector General of Police, the Principal Secretary and myself have been under pressure from all manner of thieves that we should import police uniforms,” said Dr. Matiang’i, insisting that the uniforms will be procured and made locally.

“We will not import police uniforms from any country. We have to promote the local textile industry. Buy Kenya, build Kenya.”

The CS termed as outrageous the claims that there was a shortage of the material, further saying that the contract for the uniforms has already been awarded to the Export Processing Zone Authority, Rivertex and the National Youth Service (NYS).

“Isn’t it simply outrageous that someone is saying we don’t have material in Kenya with the kind of textile sector we have. Why would the government put budget resources to revive Rivatex and provide jobs in Eldoret then we proceed like fools to import police uniforms?” posed the CS.

He added: “We have already paid. We are making uniforms for our police and take it to the bank from me, we will not import uniform. No amount of pressure or manipulation will change that position.”

The CS added that Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Karanja Kibicho, was recently on a tour to inspect the progress of the new uniforms and the report he brought back was positive.

The CS was speaking at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) while meeting with the National Assembly’s Parliamentary Caucus on the transport sector reforms.

He was accompanied by Transport CS James Macharia, PS in the Transport Ministry Esther Koimett, Inspector General Joseph Boinnet and the Director-General, NTSA Francis Meja.

At the meeting they agreed to extend the deadline on the implementation of reforms in the boda boda sector by four months from February 1, 2019 to May 1, 2019.