MOMBASA, Kenya – The government is set to overhaul the operations of the National Police Reservists (NPR) to improve their welfare, streamline command structures, and enhance accountability in volatile regions, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said.
Speaking during a media interview in Mombasa on Monday night at the start of his week-long tour of the coastal region, Murkomen revealed that a new policy framework to guide the management of NPRs is nearing completion.
The reforms will introduce better pay, insurance cover, and other benefits for the reservists, many of whom operate under difficult conditions without the same support as officers in the National Police Service.
“I agree the stipend we pay to NPRs is a little low, but we’re working on improving it,” said Murkomen. “The work they do is substantial. Most live among the communities they serve, while those in operational zones stay in camps. But they’re not on the same payroll as regular police officers, and that gap is something we are addressing.”
More than 600 reservists are currently deployed across Baringo North, Baringo South, Tiaty East, and Tiaty West – areas frequently affected by banditry and cattle rustling.
NPRs, who are often drawn from the local communities, play a vital role in law enforcement, livestock recovery, and accessing hard-to-reach areas, complementing efforts by the National Police and the Kenya Defence Forces under Operation Maliza Uhalifu.
Murkomen said the reforms would include standardized training and stricter disciplinary structures to make NPRs more accountable for actions within their areas of deployment.
“The way communities perceive NPRs is very different,” he added. “They’re seen as part of the community, and that makes a big difference in law enforcement. In many cases, arrests are more effective when NPRs are involved.”
The Interior Ministry hopes the new reforms will professionalize the reservist force and strengthen security partnerships in areas where state security services have struggled to maintain a lasting presence.
Murkomen’s tour of the Coast region will include a review of regional security operations, engagements with local security teams, and inspection of ongoing service delivery initiatives.
