Beth Wanjiku has questioned the safety and practicality of the newly unveiled maternity uniforms for pregnant female police officers, particularly when officers are deployed to potentially confrontational situations such as protests.
Her concerns come after the National Police Service unveiled dedicated maternity uniforms for expectant officers during the Kiganjo passing-out parade on August 28, 2026. The new attire is designed to accommodate pregnancy while maintaining the appearance of a police uniform.
Wanjiku pointed to incidents of female police officers being involved in confrontations during protests and asked whether the dress-style maternity uniform would provide sufficient protection and freedom of movement for pregnant officers.
“Are our pregnant female police officers safe in those dresses? We have witnessed female police officers being beaten in protests; now imagine them in dresses?”
The debate comes as the government moves to modernise police uniforms. The new maternity attire is intended to address a longstanding concern over expectant officers having to work in uniforms that may become uncomfortable or unsuitable as pregnancy progresses. Female officers had previously raised concerns about the lack of appropriate maternity uniforms.
The question now being raised is whether the new uniforms strike the right balance between comfort, dignity, safety and operational practicality, especially for officers who may be required to perform duties in demanding environments.
Wanjiku’s remarks are likely to fuel further discussion over whether pregnant officers should be assigned different duties where necessary, particularly during situations involving demonstrations or potential physical confrontation.