Nairobi: National Police Reservists (NPR) have been lauded for helping to stamp out banditry activities along the borders of West Pokot and its neighbouring counties, with some quarters calling for additional recruitment. West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin joined the national security team at the Turkwel Police Station to commemorate the first anniversary since the NPRs were deployed within the area.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kachapin acknowledged the efforts so far made by the NPR, saying cases of banditry and criminal activities had significantly reduced since the deployment of the police reservists. “Since the deployment of NPR across our borders, cases of people losing their lives through armed banditry have become rare. You can only hear of isolated cases where one person is attacked or livestock is stolen, unlike before,” stated the governor.
He argued that NPRs were better placed in fighting banditry since they are recruited from the locality; hence, they understand the language, culture, and terrain of their area of operation better. Kachapin however appealed for the National Police Service to consider sending more NPRs in the county, especially along the border zones where there are still isolated cases of armed attacks and livestock thefts.
“We are asking that the Interior Ministry consider giving us 300 more NPRs for enhanced security. The regular security agencies are doing a marvellous job but they need support from the local community through the NPR,” said the governor, reiterating the government had thought it wise to send NPRs whose relevance has been felt for the past year.
Kachapin expressed his administration’s commitment to offering relevant support to the national government. “Our government has been offering support such as building a police post at Kapuchen. The officers need our support through better accommodation and food supplies because the area is quite remote and full of hardships,” he explained.
Staff of Operations 1 from the office of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Reuben Kemboi pinpointed the role played by NPRs in the North Rift region on matters of fighting the few criminal elements. “We are having a lot of synergy between NPR and the NPS on matters of security, especially cattle rustling, which happens in some parts of the North Rift. Today we have just come to celebrate the first anniversary of the NPRs that to date have done a commendable job,” said Kemboi.
Residents who joined the celebrations at the police station lamented that for a long time the Turkwel area had had border conflicts that claimed many lives, particularly children and women, and thanked the government for addressing the challenge. “The government has done very well and we can go back to our usual farming activities. Cases of animal thefts have been contained since the establishment of a KDF camp and recruitment of NPRs,” noted James Lorikel.