Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday announced plans by the government to restructure the command and management of the National Police Reservists (NPRS).
Speaking after a meeting with the field commanders at Ngaratuko Primary School Grounds in Baringo, the CS remarked that the government has decided to go down this route to address the rising cases of insecurity in the region.
CS Kindiki further argued that the move to reshuffle the management of the reservists will supplement the the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF's) security operations in the area.
“Together with local security heads and field commanders, we have reviewed the progress of Operation Maliza Uhalifu,” CS Kindiki remarked in a statement.
“To seal off operational gaps, we are forthwith reorganising the management, command and control of the National Police Reservists (NPR) to supplement the capabilities of the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the operation.”
The CS was speaking during an impromptu visit to Namba and Kamenjo areas in Baringo following increased attacks in the regions.
While issuing the statement, CS Kindiki warned local politicians against meddling in the operation warning that the government would not hesitate to make tough decisions for the greater good of national security.
The CS intimated that the government is well aware that powerful politicians from the region are complicit in banditry.
CS Kindiki's warning came a month after he gave a shoot to kill order to police officers battling bandits.
At the time, bandits had just attacked a security installation in the area forcing the cabinet secretary to issue the order.
Banditry has over the years been a major problem in Baringo and the larger North Rift region which has led to displacement of people and disrupted economic activities.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, who was a regional commander before ascending into office in a past interview, claimed that the politicians behind the banditry are well known but the national government has not done anything tangible to address the problem.
