The government will issue firearms to chiefs and Assistant chiefs working in North-Eastern and areas affected by banditry to actively support security officers in combating the menace.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced that before arming the chiefs, there will be thorough vetting of the administrators to determine their suitability to bear arms and accountability of use of the weapons.
“You cannot expect an officer to pursue criminals and recover stolen livestock using a baton. I have directed the security teams in the counties affected by cattle rustling to vet our chiefs and assistant chiefs so that we can arm them to protect the lives and property of wananchi,” he said.
While speaking in Arbajahan Primary School, Wajir County, on Thursday, November 24 CS Kindiki said the chiefs will be assigned with police officers to allow them fight crime and enforce law and order effectively.
Furthermore, the CS directed that an additional two hundred National Police Reservists (NPRs) be recruited in North-Eastern as part of efforts to beef up the security and provide a sustainable environment for development.
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“We won’t have investment and socio-economic growth in Northern Kenya without lasting peace, security, and stability. We can only open this region to investment through improved policing.” CS Kindiki noted.
Additionally, the Interior CS lauded security officers for their selfless sacrifices in protecting the lives and property of their fellow citizens, adding that the government was keen on progressive deployment of more officers to reinforce security.
Moreover, CS Kindiki instructed the County Commissioners of Wajir and Isiolo to begin the formalization of peace meetings and institutionalize the consultative framework of elders as a forum for dispute resolution.
“I strongly believe we can end the retrogressive practice of cattle rustling and clashes here if the elders are fully involved. You will constitute a 20-member team of elders from the two counties to steer peace talks and peaceful coexistence,” he said.
