Meru:A total of 705 National Police Reservists from 10 counties have graduated from the newly established Magado Field Training Camp in Meru County after completing a one-month intensive security training program. This initiative aims to enhance policing efforts in regions prone to banditry and located near borders.
According to Kenya News Agency, the group of reservists includes 11 retired chiefs and seven women, selected from Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana, Baringo, Isiolo, Meru, Marsabit, Kitui, Tana River, and West Pokot. The inclusion of chiefs in the program is intended to boost security coordination in areas lacking regular police stations.
During the passing-out ceremony, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen highlighted the significance of this graduation in promoting community-based policing, especially in pastoralist regions affected by cattle rustling and banditry. He emphasized that the reservists have gained skills in firearm handling, field operations, crime prevention, and community policing, making them valuable complements to regular police forces.
Murkomen stated that this is the first instance where National Police Reservists from various communities and counties have been trained together in a single camp, fostering unity, intelligence sharing, and cooperation in combating insecurity. He cautioned the reservists against the misuse of firearms and warned that any misuse of government-issued weapons would lead to prosecution.
The Cabinet Secretary also urged the reservists to maintain professionalism and avoid political involvement, particularly in the lead-up to the next General Election. Additionally, Murkomen revealed that the 705 reservists will bolster the efforts of over 10,000 police officers to enhance national security as the elections approach.
Furthermore, he noted the past recovery of more than 3,000 illegal firearms and 8,000 rounds of ammunition through local intelligence from NPR officers. He mandated that all current NPRs, approximately 8,000 officers, must undergo refresher training at Magado within the next eight months to improve security operations’ effectiveness across the country.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja stated that the new reservists will enhance the National Police Service’s operational capacity in remote areas where insecurity is a persistent issue. He urged the graduates to maintain integrity, discipline, and neutrality, especially during the upcoming election period.
Kanja also encouraged the reservists to look after their physical and mental health while performing their duties in challenging environments. The ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including DIG-Administration Police Gilbert Masengeli, National Police College Main Campus Commandant Munga Nyale, Eastern Regional Commissioner Jacob Ouma, and other senior security officers.
