Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has vowed to defend security officers who use their guns to protect the lives and property of Kenyans.
Kindiki said there was no room for negotiation with criminals whose intention is to maim and kill innocent Kenyans, and assured locals that his office will ensure that all criminals are brought to book.
The CS maintained the government is ready to defend any police officer, who uses his gun properly as per the law to repel criminals and protect property.
"We are telling our officers to neutralise all threats before they reach the citizens or to any security officer. We don't want our officers to be threatened, and we will defend them as long as they used their guns within the law," he said.
He condemned the killing of eight GSU officers, who were attacked by the bandits two months ago in Turkana East while on a security operation.
He assured Kenyans that have put some measures that will enable security personnel to go for criminals before making any attempt of attacking citizens.
Speaking in Kakuma in Turkana West sub-county where he was visiting security officers in that area, Kindiki reiterated that his ministry will ensure that banditry will become a thing of the past.
"We will make banditry, cattle rustling and terrorism a painful experience and I am asking the criminals to reform before it is too late for them," Kindiki said.
Kindiki, who was received by Turkana governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, lauded the new Turkana County Commissioner Jacob Ouma for discharging services to residents through a multi-sectoral approach.
To tame insecurity in the region, the CS announced that Turkana will recruit 600 National Police Reservists in the next two weeks, who will support the police in the six targeted sub-counties in Turkana.
"I want this NPR program to be managed well, the vetting process must also be thorough because one of the challenges that are like to affect that program is the misuse of firearms," warned Kindiki.
Turkana County commander Samwel Ndanyi said so far they have provided 90 NPR in Turkana East with guns and uniforms and deployed them to various places.
He further noted that after festive seasons there will be a changeover of officers who have served in Turkana for so long and bring others from other parts of the country.
