The government will save Sh700 million in buying the new police uniforms, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has said.
Mating’i hit out at unscrupulous government officers who wanted to import the new police uniforms after claiming the material cannot be found in the country.
While monitoring the progress of making the uniforms at the National Youth Service (NYS), the CS said it is unfortunate that some individuals wanted to make money out of the tender.
"Those who told us senseless stories about Kenya not having the materials should come and see what we are seeing here,” Matiang’i said.
The tough-talking CS said government officers should stop treating the government as a cash cow to milk.
"Why on earth would we import uniform with all this capacity? ..ati kwa sababu watu wanataka kuhongana and we all wear these uniforms hii upumbavu lazima tuache, tujenge nchi,” he said.
Matiang’I said the move is one way of supporting local companies instead of having government import things.
"I am happy and proud to be a Kenyan and we are supporting our own. The money we use for these goods and services is not our money... isn't it wise to support local content?" he said.