Turkana county Leaders and area residents have urged the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security to make interventions for increased deployment of police reservists in the county.
Underscoring the impact of police reservists in enhancing security within the County area MPs Nicholas Ngikor ( Turkana East), Protus Akuja ( Loima) and Dr. John Ariko ( Turkana South) told the Committee that most younger officers from the National Police Service deployed to the county find it difficult to survive in the area and request for transfers as soon as they land or quit altogether.
The Members who held engagements with the Committee and area residents on the sidelines of its fact finding mission in the county, told the Committee that the few police reservists deployed in each sub-county have had a positive impact with cases of banditry and other forms of skirmishes on the decline.
While on a visit to Lokwamosing police post which was raided by bandits last month, Members noted the need to beef up the police artillery and embrace technology to enhance the fight against banditry.
The leader of the delegation, Committee Vice Chairperson, Dido Rasso called on the police to alongside the proposed increment of police reservists, consider using drones to conduct surveillance operations in the vast area.
β While it is important to enhance police presence in the area which is being addressed by the multi-agency security team, you should consider deploying drones to conduct surveillance operations especially in the area that have a tough terrain. This will also help you save certain expenses such as on fuelβ, Rasso opined.
Earlier, the Committee was told of the difficulties experienced by police officers in transportation due to inadequate allocation to purchase fuel . Members expressed concerns over the rigorous process that they police have to go through to access their weekly quota of fuel which is sourced almost 300km away in Kitale. Members undertook to sort out the matter with the relevant agencies.
During different engagements with security officers, the Committee was also informed of the need to fix a number of armoured personnel carriers which had stalled to boost the war against banditry.
At the same time, Rasso has disclosed plans for the Committee to hold a round table meeting soon with the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and legislators from the troubled counties of Samburu, Baringo, WestPokot, Laikipia and Turkana Counties to find a last solution to the insecurity that has bedeviled the counties for decades.
Addressing residents in a public baraza at Lokorio in Turkana East Constituency, Rasso emphasized that different communities have to learn how to coexist peacefully. He was responding to the leadersβ and residentsβ concerns that the neighbouring Pokot Community was using banditry to displace from within their borders.
βWe cannot pass on this culture of conflict from generation to another. We must bring it to an end especially now that thereβs goodwill from the government to end this menace once and for all. We must find ways of coexisting with each otherβ, Rasso held.
Tomorrow, the Committee is scheduled to extend its mission to Lokichoggio in Turkana West Constituency.