NE leaders want 300 reservists in war on terror

The Government should recruit over 300 police reservists to help police North Eastern region and repulse Al-Shabaab, area leaders have said.

The leaders also want the reservists trained before being deployed, adding that they should be paid Sh20,000 monthly. Further, they recommended that 600 new police officers be deployed in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties.

These were part of the recommendations made to President Uhuru Kenyattta by the leaders in a report on how to tackle terrorism.

"Redeploy an additional 200 local police officers per county back to the region, preferably not in home counties," the report partly reads.

Already, more than 500 police officers have been moved to Mandera, Wajir and Garissa and additional intelligence officers and new county commissioners from the region will also be deployed.

The report says the region will receive 60 new assorted vehicles and a budget of over Sh500 million as part of efforts to improve security. The report was handed to the President with the leaders demanding newly appointed regional co-ordinator Mohamud Ali Saleh be allowed to recruit and vet the reservists.

The report also wants the number of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel increased along the border and  those under Amisom deployed to Gedo, Somalia.

The leaders also demanded that KDF be allocated one fixed-wing transport plane and a helicopter for rapid response to be stationed in the region but under Mr Saleh's command.

"KDF to secure and man strategic bridges that are the lifeline of Al-Shabaab including Kabsuma, Jilib, Bardere, Buaale and Luug," the report says.

The report calls for involvement of the three counties in running of security affairs through funding of some operations. This will be done through establishment of an inter-governmental memorandum of understanding between the three counties and national government under article 187 of the Constitution.

They also demanded the Inspector General of Police streamlines the command and control of security organs at county level, decentralise disciplinary mechanisms for police, address corruption in the service and take action on breaches and negligence among police officers.

 Vet businesses

The report demands banning importation of vehicles through Somalia and that all vehicles in the three counties be verified and registered by June. "All businesses in the three counties to be vetted afresh by local officials with a view to flushing out financiers and sympathisers," the report said.

The report says the Kenya-Somalia border should remain closed except for gazetted customs and immigration border points.