Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindimki has called on the National Police Reservists (NPR) to use the weapons and training received from their instructors to protect Kenyans from criminals.
Speaking in Lotik, Isiolo County, during the graduation ceremony of 138 NPRs, Prof Kindiki said their work (NPR) is very important in enhancing security especially in counties experiencing security challenges.
He said NPRs are the first line of defence to help police officers and other security personnel to eliminate bandits and cattle rustlers who were killing people and stealing their livestock.
“Good people, use the training you have received from your instructors and the weapons that you have to protect yourselves from criminals and to protect the people of Kenya. Do not allow the criminals to get you before you get them. That weapon is not for an ornament and should be used in its rightful way,” said Prof Kindiki.
He said the issue of banditry and cattle rustling has been in existence in some parts of the country for a long time but this time the issue is coming to an end.
“Many people have lost their lives in these circumstances but our message to these criminals is that their days are numbered and this is why we are saying that NPR will help us in ending this problem,” said Professor Kindiki.
He said the newly recruited NPR are drawn from different communities living in Isiolo County and they know everything that goes on in the County and they will be on the frontline in helping to end the problem.
In all the counties where we have banditry and livestock rustling challenges, he added, the NPRs have helped us greatly and they have provided the much-needed support to the security agencies to be able to neutralise the threats of banditry and livestock rustling
“I want to congratulate all the 138 NPRs that are passing out today and wish you blessings and victory and God will protect you and you will use the training that you have received, the weapons that you have acquired to protect yourselves and our communities from evil people who are killing our people and taking away their property,” said Professor Kindiki.
As a government, he added, “we have decided that we will use all the available tactics to eliminate these criminals, the recruitment of NPR being one of them as well as the equipment that we have brought here to protect our officers during the operations”.
By Dickson Mwiti
