By Abduba Mamo
Saturday May 3, 2025
Chiefs and their assistants working in security-prone areas willing to own guns have been directed to apply for them.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen assured the administrators facing security threats in their areas of jurisdiction that just like the National Police Reservists (NPR), they could acquire government guns to protect themselves but must first register with the Inspector General of Police before they are issued with the weapons.
The CS observed that some chiefs have reportedly been harassed by politicians and criminals, despite being chairmen of the locational security committees.
“Much as we would like to equip them with modern tools and encourage them to work closely with area police commanders to deal with criminals, we will also consider arming them for self-protection,” he said.
Murkomen made the remarks in Isiolo town when he met regional security officers from Rift valley and Eastern, as well as county security chiefs from Marsabit, Samburu, Laikipia, Meru and Isiolo.
He said chiefs should be loyal to the government of the day and work hard to publicize its policies and ensure implementation of crucial development projects so that citizens could have confidence in the current administration.
He added that the government would provide chiefs with motorbikes and open more administrative areas to bring services closer to the people.
Murkomen further said cases of human trafficking and drug smuggling are serious issues and urged the police to ruthlessly deal with all those orchestrating the two vices by promptly arresting them and impounding their vehicles.
He said by arresting the dealers, the vices could be brought to a stop, saying currently criminals were having a field day smuggling drugs and engaging in human trafficking while making use of the middlemen, who facilitated the illegal deals.
The CS said more police and multi-agency units would continue to patrol the area with a view to dealing with reported crimes.
He was accompanied by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Langat; Eastern Regional Commissioner, Paul Rotich; and his Rift Valley counterpart, Dr. Abdi Hassan.