A section of heads of cattle which were recovered by police at Ole Naishu ranch in Laikipia County on January 9, 2018. Cattle rustlers raided the ranch and drove away 719 heads of cattle on Tuesday night. Police pursued the raiders and managed to recover over 600 of them at Mkogondo forest. Two people were injured during the raid and taken to a Nanyuki hospital. Photo/ JOSEPH KANYI
Leaders from Meru County are now banking on the establishment of police and military training facilities along the border with Isiolo County to permanently resolve cattle rustling in the region.
According to Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma, the county government has allocated 600 acres to the Police Training College for the establishment of field training schools.
Mr Mutuma said they were also in talks with the Kenya Wildlife Service to establish a training school along the border with Isiolo.
Last week, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen officially opened the field simulation course for over 2,000 Administration Police (AP) recruits at Lii, in Mutuati, Meru County.
Mr Murkomen confirmed that the National Police College, Kiganjo, is also setting up a field school near the AP facility.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) already occupies thousands of acres under the 78-battalion camo and the School of Artillery.
In 2022, the then Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi had offered to allocate the KDF a stretch of land along the border to create a buffer zone against bandits.
Over the last three years, Meru herders say they have lost more than 11,000 head of cattle to banditry, triggering a security operation that commenced in Isiolo, Laikipia and Samburu counties early this month.
Mr Murkomen said the establishment of National Police Service recruit training schools in Meru County Assembly is part of the government’s effort to boost security along the Isiolo border.
“We thank the Meru County Government for the generous land donation, which will enhance police and community collaboration. The establishment of these field training schools is a product of public proposals during the Jukwaa la Usalama forums. Many counties in northern Kenya have offered land for the training of our police recruits,” CS Murkomen said.
He added that the ministry is supporting the establishment of more field training schools in northern and North Rift counties to enhance recruits’ experiential learning.
“Some petty politicians are claiming that we want to close Kiganjo Police Training College. The field training schools are meant to harden our recruits and give them real life experience as they prepare for policing work. The police training schools will also create a security buffer in parts of Meru hit by banditry,” Mr Murkomen said.
Mr Mutuma noted that the 640-square-kilometre Nyambene Conservancy has been a source of hardship for herders due to rampant banditry.
“The establishment of police training schools will not only enhance security but also trigger development in the area. We expect to start recording a rise in the value of land along the Isiolo – Modogashe road. It is also an opportunity for our people to do business by supplying food and other items to the recruits,” Governor Mutuma said.
He said the county was also supporting the security agencies by opening up roads and providing water for the training facilities.
Igembe North MP Julius Taitumu expressed confidence that the commencement of police recruits training in the area would fast-track infrastructure development.
“This is a bold and strategic step towards strengthening security particularly across our northern grazing zones,” he said.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, who accompanied the CS, said the establishment of the training schools in remote parts of the country is meant to provide adequate field simulation for police recruits.
