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{
    "id": 389727,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/389727/?format=api",
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    "content": "armed by the State to do that and make up for the low presence of the police. They are, in fact, the law enforcers in many parts of this country. The police are very few and located only in settled areas. What people rely on are actually the police reservists. So, they are very important and some areas cannot do without them. It is the high time that we looked into their welfare, to assist them perform their duties and also motivate them, so that they can do what they are already doing. Madam Temporary Speaker, taking into account the nature of some parts of this country which are vast and sparsely populated; the regular police cannot handle the security there. In most cases, they are very few in number. So, what is required in this case is quick response and people who know the terrain. The KPRs can deal with the harsh climatic conditions there, which I am sure the regular police cannot do. I know of cases in my area where we used to have raids and when you go to the police, they tell you: “Why do you not take care of your security?” That could be one reason we have illegal arms in the hands of the locals. It is a necessity and if the Government can organize itself and arm the KPR in a regular manner, the issue of illegal arms can be controlled. These people are very effective. I know of a case where recently some bandits killed some motorists and when the police came, the first thing that they thought of was that maybe the nearest village was involved. They would have gone there and caused more harm. But it is the reservists who told them how to track those people. Incidentally, they found them very far from where they had targeted. So, the reservists are very necessary in terms of the local knowledge. The terrain is so harsh that you cannot cover it using the normal means of transport, like the Land Rovers and so on. You have to do it on foot. In most cases, you are dealing with people who are also mobile. The insecurity is not on the road but in the bush. So, the reservists are the best option that we have for now. Madam Temporary Speaker, as has been said, the rural and urban police reservists have been there since 1948. We know that the urban reservists had a problem of being part of insecurity and that is why it was disbanded. But we even saw, during the AlShabaab issues in Garissa, the Government trying to reintroduce it, because it is still required. Madam Temporary Speaker, in order to make proper use of my time, I will move to what the Motion is about. Right now – and it was rightfully said – people get enrolled as police reservists out of their own need. Somebody will go and approach the police and get a gun. There is no proper way of seeing how many are required and how to engage them. So, there must be some coordinated way of engagement. Madam Temporary Speaker, the other issue is training."
}