Police reservists deployed to guard Lamu East villages handed in their weapons on Wednesday deserting duty. County Chief Detective Prosper Bosire told National Assembly House Rules Committee in Lamu Town that the reservists surrendered their guns for fear of being attacked by Al-Shabaab militants.
The 76 reservists were tasked with protecting the villages of Milimani, Basuba, Mangai, Mararani, Kiangwe, Ishakani and Kiunga in Lamu County where there was shortage of security personnel.
However, Mr Bosire stated that they were on the verge of recruiting other people to replace the officers who gave up on duty.
Meanwhile, other reservists in the area requested the government to be paid like regular police officers and be enrolled in a life insurance scheme. Nation reports that the officers did not feel recognized by the government yet their role in protecting citizens and property was the same as that of the police.
This exit by the reservists is noted even as the government recently launched a security exercise dubbed 'Operation Linda Boni' that is aimed at flushing out Al Shabaab militants believed to have set camp in the forest.
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