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{
    "id": 389669,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/389669/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 81,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I stand to second this Motion by, first of all, congratulating the Mover for bringing this Motion which is really at the core of security in our country. Insecurity has heightened in recent years to worrying levels such that in this House, there is no day that goes by without several Members raising concerns about insecurity in their counties. Madam Temporary Speaker, this has also brought about the need and the calls for reform in the police service. As we reform the police service, we do not seem to hear much about the role of the police reservists. Police reservists have done a commendable job over the years for this country. Sometimes we do not give them credit because we only see the few mistakes that are associated with them. In areas where we have had KPRs we have witnessed relative peace. My colleague has mentioned about Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties. Insecurity used to be a serious problem, but when we deployed police reservists, the rate of crime has commendably gone down despite the fact that the police reservists are faced with a lot of challenges. Therefore, as we reform the police service, let us also look at how best we can make the police reserve sector of the service more active. Madam Temporary Speaker, we have also seen that in areas where there are no police reservists, there is a tendency by the communities to form groups to take care of their security. This happens, especially in areas where the regular police service does not render the service. There have been vigilante groups which, from time to time, have become gangs. We have the Sungu sungu, Chinkororo and Musumbiji . I believe that if we had police reservists in central Kenya, perhaps, the Mungiki menace would not be there. There are no KPRs in Bungoma County. Yesterday, we heard from the media that people are being killed by thugs. Perhaps, if we had KPRs, those kinds of incidences would not be there. We know in areas or constituencies where there are KPRs, the crime rate tends to go down. The challenges facing KPRs are many. These are volunteers. They are young men who have volunteered and are patriotic to offer security services to their communities and to the nation. However, very little has been done to reward them or even to meet what is referred to in the Constitution as their basic human rights. They offer services free of charge. They are not remunerated in any way and do not get any ex gratia . When they are wounded, they take care of themselves. It is a pity that when they die their families do not receive any compensation. These people do not have any formal training, but probably, rudimentary training. This explains why some of them engage in unprofessional conduct. It is important that our KPRs are appreciated by getting better pay and insurance cover which will help them in the event of injury or death. There should be compensation to their families when they lose their lives. The role of the service can be expanded. This could be a cheaper way of dealing with issues of poaching which are on the upsurge. If we brought in the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to engage them in scouting and do some intelligence work, since they are in a better position to do so, things would improve. A police officer is taken to an area which is new to him and within no time, he is transferred. He ends up not learning."
}