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{
    "id": 501530,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/501530/?format=api",
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    "content": "and chiefs as well as the District Commissioners (DCs) are now in the new dispensation in the county governments. If they work together to know which persons can be engaged in this type of sensitive assignment, we may be able to reduce this. Further, so that our army is not always called from their official duty. They are supposed to guard the territories of Republic of Kenya from the neighboring countries. Right now, there is no factory manufacturing guns in Kenya. There is no outlet inside here, they do not use airplanes and they do not come through the airport. They come through the porous borders. That is where our very highly trained Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers must stay put between the border of Kenya and Somalia at every step they are. I will continue using the example of Uganda. You will find that in a stretch of almost 600 kilometres from the border with Kenya, there is a big army camp after every 10 or 20 kilometres. The Kenya Police Reservists (KPRs) should work closely with them and should there be any information to be forwarded, the other camps can give them. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we also have problems on the border of Kenya with Ethiopia and South Sudan. That is why we keep mentioning that this is where the illegal firearms come from. If the Kenya Defence Force (KDF) could work with the KPRs, they will be able to know those who trade in illegal arms. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, last year, we brought a similar Motion to the Floor of this House and it was agreed unanimously that there is need for the KPRs to complement our current security officers. I heard one speaker say that there are KPRs who misuse firearms and rob other people. What became of the training and monitoring of the use of firearms? How can you give out a gun and disappear? They need to be monitored. One incident should not lead us to say that we do not need KPRs. We also have police officers who sometimes misuse their own guns. Can we then condemn the entire police force for the mistake of some officers? Serious surveillance on how they use these guns is essential. Regarding the incident that occurred recently, there was no communication whatsoever. Mobile phones and other communication gadgets do not work in that area. Therefore, the national Government and the county government should work together and identify sites to mount communication boosters. This will make it easy to track some of the incidences that happen. It is a shame that there are places with no network connection at all. Some people have to climb mountains and trees in order to communicate. The Government needs to work with Safaricom and other mobile service providers to ensure that there is network coverage. This will enable the KPRs to easily report any incidents that they cannot handle. They can call the nearest police station, General Service Unit (GSU) camp or reach senior officers like the County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners or even the office of the Cabinet Secretary. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in a nutshell, the KPRs are needed in Kenya now more than ever before, looking at the threats from every corner of the country. We even have youth who are being radicalized. Therefore, there is need to have people who can work closely with them and know what is happening. The old culture of cattle rustling should be stopped in the areas where it is happening. But as this goes on, we also need to open up the areas. It is a shame that in order to reach some of the areas, you need a helicopter. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}