The government through the Interior and Coordination of National Government ministry has recruited National Police Reservists (NPR) to help beef up security in the clash torn areas of Baringo North and Marigat sub counties in Baringo County.
County Police Commander Robinson Ndiwa, said that the exercise that kicked off on Monday will see a total of 80 NPR being enlisted and deployed to areas bordering Tiaty such as Yatya, Chepkesin, Ngaratuko, Kagir, Arabal, Ngelecha, Kasiela, Mukutani, Nasukuro and Lamaiwe among other insecurity prone zones.
Speaking to KNA at his Kabarnet office, the police commander said that the long awaited recruitment will go a long way in complementing efforts of security personnel spread across the banditry hit areas.
He stated that the NPR who are familiar with the rugged terrain will be able to help police as they work hand in hand in restoration of peace and stability in the volatile areas.
Ndiwa added that the NPRs being the natives will be able to act as a quick response whenever the cattle rustlers strike the affected parts.
The police commander disclosed that six people have been killed by the heavily armed bandits since the beginning of this year alone in the two sub counties.
Besides the loss of lives, the incessant attacks have resulted in hundreds of livestock being stolen, innocent people maimed, families displaced, closure of more than ten schools and farm lands abandoned reducing the residents to paupers and refugees and thus completely ruining livelihoods.
During a familiarization tour of Arabal, Kasiela and Lamaiwe areas last week by newly posted County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa, residents led by area MP Charles Kamuren, petitioned the government to recruit for them NPR to help in repulsing the bandits whenever they stage attacks.
They complained that since the NPR were disbanded two years ago, the bandits have intensified their attacks, killing them, stealing their animals, torching houses and displacing families with impunity.
“With the deployment of NPRs, it will be a game changer since it will assist the security teams in tackling this banditry menace,” he said.
Kandie Ruto, a local, regretted that bandits have displaced them and left them homeless despite establishment of security posts, camps and patrol bases in the area.
He asked the government to chip in and rescue them from the hands of the attackers who not only steal from them but kill and capture their homes forcing them to become internally displaced persons (IDP).
“We need National Police Reservists (NPR) in order to help the community, we cannot be losing lives, we will not allow them to make homes out of our ancestral land, rendering us poor,” he said.
Ruto added that with the NPR they will be able to protect themselves and their properties even before the arrival of police officers.
By Faith Lagat
