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Back in the day when police did not need pockets

When President Jomo Kenyatta inspected Women police at a passing out parade in October 1970. [Archives, Standard]

As Kenya contemplates having thousands of police officers scouring the breath and length of the country without a pocket to put a handkerchief of spare magazine, there was a time society cared about crime busters.

The idea of having a police uniform without pockets is informed by the country's desire to minimise bribe-taking by officers. This has not always been the case. When a gang raided Kaptagat Forest Station, they had in their sights a Sh13,000 heist.

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