Chiefs and assistant chiefs in conflict-prone areas will now be supplied with guns, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced.
The government had been, for sometime now, mulling over issuing chiefs and assistant chiefs in volatile areas with firearms.
Addressing a security meeting in Isiolo town on Wednesday, Murkomen said he totally concurs with the suggestion to give chiefs in insecure areas guns.
“I agree that those who are in conflict-prone areas and feel their lives may be in danger should get guns. We are ready to register you as National Police Reservist and you get a firearm to protect yourself,” the CS stated.
Murkomen said that chiefs and their assistants can now begin to get firearms immediately.
"That will not happen another day. After this meeting, tell your concerns to the OCDP and deputy county commissioner as chair of subcounty security committee. They will come with the names to IGs office and then we will know how many can be registered as NPRs and then undergo training before they are given guns,” he said.
Murkomen was in Isiolo town for a meeting with the security committees from Isiolo, Meru, Laikipia, Samburu and Marsabit counties.
The meeting sought to assess the progress of ongoing security operations targeting banditry, cattle rustling and drug trafficking.
The CS also visited Isiolo police station where he interacted with the security personnel.
On April 11, Murkomen said he did not see any reason to deny chiefs the right to hold guns, especially when it is proved beyond doubt that their lives were at risk in their areas of jurisdiction.
Risky areas include those that continue to witness pastoralist unrest, border areas such as Boni Forest, and parts of North Eastern where al Shabaab has been a threat.
Murkomen assured that the government would ensure local administrators operating in such places are equipped with rifles.
He argued that chiefs should not be barred from having guns since even some civilians, who have been vetted and licensed, hold guns.
“I don’t see any problem in having our chiefs armed. If civilians can apply and get licences to be gun holders, why not the chiefs?” he posed.
