The National Government, on Thursday, December 8, confirmed the employment of 592 police reservists to the National Police Service.
The reservists from Maasai Mara National Reserve armed security rangers will strengthen the operational capacity of police officers in the country.
While addressing the graduates, Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo expressed the desire for the national government to partner with local villagers to curb security challenges.
PS Omollo noted that banditry, poaching, perennial human-wildlife conflict, illegal logging, and environmental degradation are major security challenges in the country.
“This is a model we want to employ in the rest of the country, particularly in counties with similar challenges like Narok,” PS Omollo noted, adding that the exercise was a pioneer partnership pact between the national and county governments.
PS Omollo noted that the National Police Service provided 464 guns while the county government procured operations vehicles and the salaries for National Police Reservists.
“The National Police Reservists have been vetted and approved by the County Security team and trained to take up the new mandate in liaison with the National Police Service Command structures.
“They will be expected to strictly adhere to the National Police Service Act as well as the Service Standing Orders,” PS. Omollo confirmed.
The 592 reservists underwent a three-month training programme in which they were taught several techniques, including specialised courses at the GSU Training College Embakasi, Administration Police Training College, Kenya Forest Services Training College, and the Kenya Wildlife Enforcement Academy for Wildlife Management.
However, the PS expressed his concerns and warned the recruits against misusing their positions and resources in their custody to harass citizens.
“Any cases of indiscipline or misuse and/or abuse of the firearm issued today will be met by the full force of the law. In addition, the NPRs will not be a tool for use by misguided quotas to settle differences, be it personal or political.”
The National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) were tasked to ensure that those engaging in teenage pregnancies, early marriage and female circumcision are meant to face the law.
“This is to put everyone on notice. We must change this trajectory and ensure that our girls are able to go through school so that they can be people like we are today and there is no debate about that,” PS Omollo noted.
Among those who attended the event were Principal Secretary of Tourism John Olo ltuaa, Narok governor, Francis Ole Ntutu, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Maalim Mohammed and the Chairman of the Administration and Internal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, Gabriel Tongoyo.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
