Kenya: Murkomen Warns Against Illegal Use of Police Military, Style Uniforms

What the report says

Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has told Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to act quickly against people allegedly wearing camouflage and other security-style uniforms while posing as police officers or specialized security personnel. The remarks were reported by Capital FM and carried by AllAfrica from Nairobi, Kenya, on 7 August 2026.

Murkomen said some individuals were using uniforms similar to those of security officers to mislead the public and to offer protection at political events despite lacking any official role in the security services. He said such conduct undermines public trust and the credibility of Kenya’s security institutions. He also called for arrests of those involved, according to the report.

The article notes that Kenyan law already bars unauthorized use of police uniforms and impersonation of police officers. Under Section 101 of the National Police Service Act, people without written permission from the Inspector General can be prosecuted for wearing or assuming police-like uniforms, titles or descriptions, or for pretending to be police officers. The law provides penalties that can include a fine of up to Sh1 million, prison for up to 10 years, or both.

More broadly, the development highlights concerns in Kenya about impersonation and the use of security imagery in political or private settings, especially where it may be used to deceive the public.