Police reservists hand over guns for registration

Rifles will undergo ballistic analysis

The Government is collecting guns and bullets from National Police Reservists (NPRs) for branding and registration.

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Mongo Chimwaga said NPRs will also be vetted and retrained during the week-long exercise that started last week.

The exercise will cover cattle rustling prone areas of Baringo North and South, Tiaty, Turkana, Kerio Valley, West Pokot and Laikipa.

Mr Chimwaga said the ongoing vetting also involves ballistic analysis to unearth guns that could have been used in past ethnic clashes.

“There is no disarmament, the firearms are being picked for branding and vetting of the reservists,” he clarified.

Genuine reservists

The Regional Commissioner said some of the guns that were in the hands of reservists had not been marked as property of the Government.

He said the vetting would help the Government establish the number of genuine police reservists.

This, he argued,  will enable security agencies to monitor criminals who use government guns to commit crimes.

Chimwaga said some reservists were recruited 10 to 15 years ago and there was a need to establish their fitness and also access vulnerability of the areas they serve in.

He, however, said he was not sure of the number of guns picked as a report is directly made to the Directorate of National Police Reservists.

Over the weekend at least 20 guns were picked by police officers from NPRs in Kapedo raising fears among the locals.

On Sunday evening, two people were seriously injured in a bandit attack in Chemorongion village in Arabal, Baringo South.

The two, who are admitted to Kabarnet Hospital, were herding their livestock when the incident happened.

Charles Kanyarkil, 50, sustained an injury on his stomach while Joshua Kamarkan, 36 saw a bullet pass through his chin and across the hip and right foot.

Cheboi Kiptalam, who escaped unhurt, said they were defenceless when the bandits struck.

Mr Kiptalam blamed the attack on the Government, saying the attack happened days after NPRs surrendered their guns.

Muchongoi MCA Kipruto Kimosop said the Government has failed to provide security in the area.

In March 2017 following analysis of the security situation in Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Laikipia and Baringo County the National Police Service found the need to recruit additional reservists to complement and reinforce the personnel on the ground.