The controversy surrounding Kenya’s newly introduced police uniforms has taken another turn after Jaswinder Bedi, the Managing Director of Bedi Investments Limited, spoke publicly about the company’s role in manufacturing and supplying the new attire. His remarks come at a time when the procurement has attracted considerable public and political attention, particularly over the cost of the uniforms, the company that won the tender, and whether the process was conducted transparently.

Bedi has sought to clarify how his company secured the contract, how the uniforms are being produced, and the claims surrounding the reported value of the tender. According to reports published on September 7, 2026, Bedi Investments was contracted to manufacture and stitch 58,701 Kenya Police General Duty uniforms, with production expected to be completed by the end of September. 

 *Who is Jaswinder Bedi?* 

Jaswinder Bedi is the Managing Director of Bedi Investments Limited, a Nakuru-based textile and garment manufacturing company with roots stretching back more than five decades. The company was incorporated in 1972 and initially operated as a tailor-made suit manufacturer before expanding into a more integrated textile manufacturing business.

The company's history is closely associated with the Bedi family. Jaswinder Bedi has described how his father, Jarnail Singh Bedi, started the business as a tailor. Over the years, the company expanded from tailoring into the production of yarn, fabrics, dyed materials and finished garments. 

Bedi Investments has also supplied uniforms to government institutions and organisations in Kenya and other African countries. Reports indicate that the company has experience manufacturing police uniforms in several African countries, making it an established player in the institutional clothing sector. 

This background has become important in the current debate because the National Police Service has rejected claims that a newly established or politically connected company was awarded the police uniform contract.

Bedi speaks out over the tender

Speaking about the controversy, Jaswinder Bedi confirmed that Bedi Investments was indeed awarded the contract to manufacture and stitch the new police uniforms.

One of the most significant issues he addressed was the widely reported figure of approximately KSh2.8 billion. Bedi disputed the description of the contract as a KSh2.8 billion deal.

According to him, the procurement was structured around individual uniform items and their respective unit prices rather than a single lump-sum amount. He declined to disclose the overall value of the contract but argued that the company's production system had enabled the government to obtain significant savings.

Bedi claimed that his company had saved the National Police Service and the Government of Kenya more than 30 percent compared with what had previously been paid for similar supplies. 

This claim is important because the cost of the new uniforms has become one of the major areas of public debate. Critics have questioned why Kenya is spending substantial public resources on changing police uniforms when officers continue to face other challenges.

However, Bedi's position is that the focus should also be placed on the unit prices and the efficiency of production rather than simply attaching a large figure to the entire procurement.

How the company says it won the contract

Bedi has explained that the company did not simply receive the contract without competition.

According to information released by the National Police Service, four Kenyan textile manufacturers with previous experience supplying police uniform materials were invited to submit samples. They were Bedi Investments Limited, Rivatex East Africa Limited, Thika Textile Mills Limited and Sunflag Textiles & Knitwear Mills.

Only Bedi Investments and Rivatex submitted samples within the stipulated period. The samples were then evaluated, and Bedi Investments' sample was selected and subsequently approved through the relevant security structures. 

The process also involved the Kenya Bureau of Standards and public participation. The National Police Service has said that the procurement was eventually carried out under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, together with applicable regulations and procedures.

Bedi has described the procurement process as one that took approximately four years before being concluded in 2026. Production of the uniforms only began about two months before his latest comments.

Production of thousands of uniforms

The scale of the assignment is significant.

Bedi said the company is currently producing approximately 3,000 uniforms per day as it works toward completing the assignment by the end of September 2026.

The company has also established centres in different counties to facilitate the measurement of individual police officers. According to Bedi, tailors travel to these centres on scheduled dates, take officers' measurements and enter the information into the company's system.

This approach is intended to ensure that officers receive properly fitting uniforms rather than simply receiving standard-sized clothing.

The exercise demonstrates the logistical challenge involved in supplying tens of thousands of officers across Kenya. It requires manufacturing, transportation, measurement, record keeping and distribution to be coordinated within a relatively short period.

 *Why Kenya changed the police uniform* 

The controversy over the supplier should not be separated from the broader question of why the Kenya Police Service decided to change its General Duty uniform.

The new uniform was unveiled on August 28, 2026, at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County. General Duty officers are moving from the Persian-blue uniform introduced in 2018 to a design featuring sky-blue shirts and navy-blue trousers.

The National Police Service has explained that the decision formed part of a wider police reform programme. It said consultations with officers revealed dissatisfaction with the previous uniform and a preference for a return to earlier colours.

The process was linked to recommendations of the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga. The Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee subsequently worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards to develop standards for the new uniform. 

Therefore, according to the official explanation, the uniform change was not an unexpected decision made solely to facilitate a particular procurement.

 *The controversy over Nalitex* 

Another major issue surrounding the tender has been the identity of the company allegedly involved in supplying the uniforms.

Reports had circulated linking Nalitex Limited to the procurement and suggesting that it was connected to the contract. The National Police Service strongly rejected those reports.

The NPS stated that Nalitex did not participate in the procurement process, was not awarded the contract, was not engaged as a subcontractor and did not receive a purchase order or payment from the service.

Instead, the police service identified Bedi Investments Limited as the company that was lawfully awarded the contract. 

This clarification is significant because it places Bedi Investments at the centre of the procurement debate and removes uncertainty over the identity of the manufacturer, at least according to the official position of the National Police Service.

Political criticism of the procurement

Despite the explanations from Bedi Investments and the National Police Service, the procurement has continued to attract criticism from political leaders.

Opposition figures have questioned the amount reportedly associated with the uniforms and have demanded greater transparency over the procurement process.

Some critics have also questioned whether changing police uniforms should be considered a priority when police officers continue to face challenges involving housing, welfare and salary deductions.

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has separately questioned why the government outsourced the manufacturing instead of using existing public-sector capacity.

Matiang'i argued that institutions such as the National Youth Service have previously been involved in producing police uniforms and could have been considered in the current exercise. He has presented the issue as part of a broader debate about whether the government is making the best use of its existing facilities and technical capacity. 

Bedi's argument about local manufacturing

For Bedi, however, the procurement also represents an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of local manufacturing.

Bedi Investments has operated in Kenya for more than 50 years, surviving significant changes in the textile industry.

The company grew from a tailoring operation into an integrated textile manufacturer capable of producing yarn, fabric and finished garments. Its development reflects the wider history of Kenya's textile industry, which has faced competition from imported clothing and other challenges over the decades. 

Awarding large government contracts to established local manufacturers can potentially support jobs, manufacturing skills and supply chains within the country.

It also fits into the government's broader Buy Kenya, Build Kenya agenda, which seeks to encourage public institutions to purchase locally manufactured goods where suitable.

The National Police Service specifically said the local manufacturers invited to participate had experience in supplying police uniform materials, and the process was conducted within this local manufacturing framework. 

The question of transparency

Although Bedi has offered explanations, questions about transparency are likely to remain.

Public procurement involving large amounts of taxpayer money naturally attracts scrutiny. Citizens and political leaders have a legitimate interest in knowing the number of uniforms ordered, the price per item, the total expenditure and how the winning company was selected.

Bedi's claim that the government saved more than 30 percent is also an important statement that could be assessed against procurement records and previous prices.

At the same time, it is important to distinguish between claims made by the supplier, statements made by the National Police Service, and allegations made by political opponents. Not every allegation circulating publicly has been independently established.

The NPS has repeatedly maintained that the procurement was carried out according to the law and that Bedi Investments was the successful company.

 *What happens next?* 

The immediate task for Bedi Investments is completing production and distribution.

With approximately 58,701 uniforms to be produced and a reported production rate of about 3,000 uniforms per day, the company is working against a tight deadline. The county-based measurement centres are intended to make the distribution process more efficient.

The successful completion of the exercise will ultimately provide an opportunity to assess the quality, durability and suitability of the new uniforms.

For the government, another important issue will be maintaining public confidence in the procurement process. Clear disclosure of procurement information can help address concerns over the cost and selection process.