Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said all chiefs and assistant chiefs serving in terror-prone regions, including Mandera County, will be issued with firearms before the end of the year.
Speaking during the Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Mandera on Monday, September 22, Murkomen explained that the move is aimed at protecting local administrators who often face threats from extremist groups and other security challenges.
The CS said chiefs already trained in firearm use will be armed immediately, while those without experience will first undergo training.
“By December, all chiefs in need of protection will be armed. Those who do not require training should be issued firearms without delay,” he stated.
Murkomen noted that Mandera has enjoyed relative calm since the deployment of a multi-agency security team along the volatile Ethiopia and Somalia borders.
Governor Mohamed Khalif also pointed out that while inter-tribal clashes have reduced, cattle rustling remains a persistent problem.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, who attended the forum, urged locals to work closely with chiefs and security agencies. “Security is a shared responsibility. We will provide protection, but collaboration with residents is equally important,” he said.
Beyond arming chiefs, Murkomen said the government will recruit and equip more National Police Reservists to sustain peace in the region.
He added that the plan follows incidents such as the March 2025 attack in Mangai, Lamu County, where militants stormed a village and lectured residents before leaving unharmed an incident that exposed the vulnerability of local leaders.
Murkomen later met with security officers in Mandera, promising to prioritize mobility once a motor vehicle leasing program is rolled out.
He also pledged to improve officers’ welfare by providing modern technology to aid in fighting insecurity.
