Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has revealed that the state has reconsidered an order to shut down police stations with less than six officers.
Speaking in Kirinyaga County on Saturday, October 30, the PS disclosed that the directive had caused misunderstanding in affected areas.
On Wednesday, October 27, the state had directed that the stations be shut down and the officers return to their mother stations.
After the directive, six posts were closed in Mukurweini in Nyeri County and another six in Subukia located in Nakuru County.
There was uproar from Kenyans after the directive with many arguing that it would worsen insecurity in the affected areas.
"That was not the intention, the intention was for where there is exposure. If you are in a dangerous zone and you are just five officers, you are exposed.
"Those are the ones we are telling are few. The number needs to increase so that when criminals ambush them, they don't overpower them," stated Kibicho.
He further noted that Kenyans had misunderstood the directive to mean that it was to be applied countrywide.
"It was misunderstood to mean everywhere even where there in no threat and that is why that communication has been withdrawn," he added.
The state had issued the directive after unidentified individuals broke into a police post at night, scoured through the armoury and walked away with ammunition.
The incident took place at Kirimon Police Post, under Suguta Marmar Police Station in Samburu West, on Monday, October 25. According to a report filed at the same station, the raid was conducted at 9:30pm in the police quarters.
According to the police, the thugs had camped in the nearby thickets from the early hours of the evening waiting for the darkness in order to strike.
