Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that chiefs and assistant chiefs operating in conflict-prone areas will now be issued with firearms after being registered as National Police Reservists (NPRs). The bold move is aimed at bolstering security and ensuring the safety of local administrators in volatile regions frequently plagued by banditry, cattle rustling, and terrorist threats.
Speaking in Isiolo town during a regional security meeting on Wednesday, Murkomen expressed full support for the proposal to arm local chiefs, noting that many of them operate under constant threats to their lives.
“I agree that those who are in conflict-prone areas and feel their lives may be in danger should get guns,” Murkomen stated. “We are ready to register you as National Police Reservists and give you firearms to protect yourselves.”
He directed local administrators who feel at risk to report their concerns to the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) and Deputy County Commissioner, who will submit names to the Inspector General’s office for consideration. Once vetted and approved, the chiefs will undergo training before being issued with firearms.
Murkomen emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting that the process would begin immediately. “That will not happen another day. After this meeting, the process begins,” he declared.
The security meeting brought together committees from Isiolo, Meru, Laikipia, Samburu, and Marsabit counties to evaluate the progress of ongoing operations aimed at curbing crime and restoring order in the region.
Murkomen further argued that chiefs deserve the right to carry arms, especially in areas where civilians have also been licensed to own firearms after proper vetting. “If civilians can apply and get licenses to be gun holders, why not the chiefs?” he asked.
The initiative targets high-risk areas including regions prone to pastoralist clashes, border zones like Boni Forest, and parts of North Eastern Kenya where al Shabaab militants remain a threat.
The move marks a significant policy shift in enhancing grassroots security by empowering local administrators to defend themselves and their communities.
