Eldoret-based Rivatex East Africa Limited has been picked to manufacture the deep blue fabric that will be used to make the new police uniforms.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Rivatex Managing Director Thomas Kipkurgat explained that they presented the sample of the fabric last month and were pleased to have been chosen to supply it.
"We are happy that President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration has recognized our efforts in the realization of one of the Big Four agenda economic pillars of manufacturing by giving us the opportunity to come up with the fabric for the new police uniforms," Prof. Kipkurgat conveyed.
60,000 metres of fabric for new police uniforms
Rivatex will need to produce 60,000 metres of fabric for the endeavour which will be handed over to the National Youth Service (NYS) for sewing.
The fabric is expected to produce full kits for the about 18,000 officers in Kenya, together with accessories which will be supplied by another company.
"The quality of our fabric is good We carried out all the tests in our laboratory and established that the fabric is ideal for the new uniforms. It does not fade.
"We are glad that the sample we presented to the security officials who visited our offices last month was approved," the director reiterated.
When a shortage of fabric was declared in December 2018, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i released a statement declaring that the shortage was created by ill-intentioned people.
He remained adamant that those trying to manipulate the system to create opportunities for themselves would not succeed.
He also stated that the fabric would be sourced locally and not imported as some high-level personalities proposed.