Police Reservists to Boost Security in Lamu County
The national government has deployed additional National Police Reservists (NPRs) to bolster security in the vulnerable parts of Lamu County. The move is aimed at enhancing local capacity to combat the threat of Al-Shabaab militants and to support the regular police and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the region. The reservists, who are drawn from and know the local terrain intimately, will play a crucial role in gathering intelligence and providing an initial response to security incidents.
The County Commissioner stated that the NPRs have undergone rigorous vetting and training to ensure they operate within the law and respect human rights. They will be deployed to remote villages and areas along the border to act as a force multiplier, bridging the gap until reinforcements from the main security units arrive. This is expected to significantly reduce response time to threats.
Local leaders and residents have welcomed the deployment, expressing hope that it will curb the frequent attacks that have disrupted livelihoods. The security team has assured the public of the reservists’ integration into the multi-agency security framework and warned criminal elements that the enhanced local surveillance will make it harder for them to operate.