The National Police Reserve has graduated 705 new recruits following a month-long training programme in Meru County. The recruits, drawn from 10 counties, completed basic training at the Magado Field Training Camp on Wednesday. This is the second group to graduate from the facility, after more than 4,000 reservists completed their training there in June. The training aimed to bring together members of different communities, including groups that have previously been involved in conflicts.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen described the programme as the first joint cross-community training of its kind in Kenya. The programme also included 11 chiefs who were trained alongside the recruits in firearm handling, field operations and community relations. Murkomen said bringing the different groups together was meant to help build trust and cooperation among reservists who operate in areas where communities have faced long-running conflicts.
The recruits were trained in various skills, including firearm handling, field operations and community relations. Murkomen said the government was also preparing to improve the welfare of the reservists, who currently receive a monthly allowance of Sh5,000. He announced plans to double the allowance and enrol NPR members in the Social Health Authority (SHA). A draft policy covering the management and coordination of the reserve would soon be taken to Cabinet for approval.
The National Police Reserve mainly operates in border areas and remote, rural and pastoralist regions, including parts of the North Rift, Upper Eastern and the Coast. The reservists work under local police commanders and help the regular police in dealing with security challenges. Their responsibilities include supporting disarmament exercises, maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, and providing information through community-based intelligence networks.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja challenged the recruits to uphold patriotism, obey the law and maintain public trust as they begin their duties. He also issued a warning on political involvement as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election, telling the reservists to remain impartial in carrying out their responsibilities. Kanja urged the recruits to remain responsive, accountable and people-centred.
Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lang’at said the Magado Field Training Camp could soon take on a bigger role within the National Police Service training system. Lang’at said the National Assembly’s Internal Security Committee visited the camp last month to assess its suitability for conversion into a Tactical Training College for the National Police Service. The facility sits on about 1,000 acres donated to the National Police Service by the Meru County Government.
The training was aimed at preparing reservists to operate effectively in difficult environments by improving their combat readiness and survival skills. The programme also sought to strengthen discipline and cooperation among the reservists and prepare them to support other national security agencies whenever they are called upon. Murkomen warned the recruits that their firearms must only be used within the law, saying those who turn their weapons against other communities would face severe disciplinary and legal consequences.
Key points
- The National Police Reserve graduates 705 new recruits after a month-long cross-community training in Meru.
- The programme aimed to bring together members of different communities to build trust and cooperation among reservists.
- The government plans to improve the welfare of the reservists, including doubling their monthly allowance and enrolling them in the Social Health Authority.
