Interior CS Murkomen warns NPR officers against misuse of firearms

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern warning to the newly recruited National Police Reservist (NPR) officers not to misuse their firearms to disrupt peace in their areas of operation.

Murkomen urged the officers to serve with integrity in addressing security challenges that have affected the banditry-infested region without misusing government-acquired firearms to threaten peace and stability.

The CS was speaking during the graduation ceremony of 705 officers at Magado Training Camp in Meru, where he assured the new NPR officers of government support, including improving their welfare and working conditions.

“Remain faithful to your code of conduct and observe the law in all your undertakings. With that firearm, you are expected to be at the highest level of discipline. If you misuse that firearm, you will receive severe punishment. The firearm is not for your community to attack other communities but to protect the people of Kenya,” he said.

The CS, who was flanked by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and his two deputies, Eliud Lagat and Gilbert Masengeli, also cautioned the new recruits against being used by politicians to cause violence along ethnic lines.

“Don’t fall prey to be tools working for politicians. Msikubali mambo ya uchochezi; mkichochewa ati ko kwa hii jamii mwende mpigane na nyingine, msikubali kwa sababu nyinyi ni askari wa Kenya,” he added.

The new recruits have been drawn from ten counties with longstanding banditry concerns as part of a broader scheme to address the historical vice in the North Rift region and its environs.