Police reservists on the spot after massacre

Members of the Kenya Police Reserve, who are supposed to complement the police force in times of insecurity, have been a source of the problem in most parts of the country.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe on Sunday said two weeks ago, security officers in Tarasa division, Tana River County, had arrested 15 men, three of them members of the KPR.

Two of the police reservists were each armed with Mark 4 rifles loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition.

Mr Kiraithe said the police would step up the operation to mop up illegal firearms held by residents in Tana River County.

“We don’t have the exact number of the firearms since the holders are usually mobile, they move from district to district,” he said.

According to the Police Service Act, the KPR consists of volunteers residing in Kenya who have attained the age of 18.

Although the government is supposed to determine the maximum number of police reservists, this has not been the case.

The reservists are bound by the same regulations as the police officers.

They may be deployed to assist the police officers in their mandate, including in the maintenance of law and order,  preservation of peace and protection of life and property.

There is no reliable database of all the reservists as most of them are not recruited procedurally.

Mr Kiraithe said the police could not cede its sovereignty on matters of maintaining law and order by allowing the KPR to break the law.

At the same time, the disarmament drive announced a few days ago by Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere has intensified with several firearms being surrendered.

However, Tana River residents interviewed said the disarmament could expose them to more attacks.

Nduru villager Ali Dhado feared that disarming the residents and the police reservists would expose the local communities to more attacks.

“Police have ordered the surrender of all weapons, including bows and arrows, a move which will affect our home guards who have been keeping an eye on our villages,” said Mr Dhado. (READ: Use 'tough measures' to deal with Tana conflict, police told)