Boost for banditry fight as police get protective cars
By Zadock Angira, March 7, 2025The fight against banditry and terror received a major boost after the police service received 10 protective vehicles with high resistance abilities.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen yesterday commissioned the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) at the General Service Unit (GSU) headquarters.
Murkomen said the equipment, to be deployed especially in North Eastern and the North Rift, would enhance police operations.
“The commissioning of these vehicles is the latest in a continuous programme to modernise police equipment. Since police started using them and the Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), crimes like banditry have reduced by about 70 percent,” the CS said.
MRAPs have the ability to resist mines and Rocket Propelled Grenades.
Murkomen said there will be continuous training of the officers handling the protective equipment.
“We are investing in resources for training to upscale their skills. These equipment will not be grounded. Where these machines are, there is always safety,” Murkomen said.
We will also improve the welfare of the officers including medical insurance covers,” Murkomen said.
He was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and his deputies Gilbert Masengeli and Eliud Lagat and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohamed Amin.
The service in 2016 acquired, for the first time in history, APCs to increase their mobility and protective gear when deployed to volatile areas or the frontier areas of the country.
However, some of them were extensively damaged, especially in the North Eastern region by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The MRAPs, make Springbuck, are from South Africa and are equipped with a 6-cylinder MWM 6.12 TCA turbo diesel intercooled engine.
They can manoeuvre in various conditions and can operate in temperatures ranging from -8°C to 50°C, ensuring reliability in extreme environments.
They are equipped with additional armour to achieve a high ballistic protection, and also offers a weapons platform, which can be equipped with remote or manual weapon stations.
The interior configuration options offer standard seating for 11 people, including the driver and commander, plus secure storage spaces for equipment.
Cabin access is possible via two side doors, one rear door, and one roof hatch, depending on the configuration.
Regarding integrity and discipline within the service, CS Murkomen said the NPS was working closely with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to deal with a few rogue officers.
He further said that the mental health of the officers will be prioritized, noting that most officers operated under very difficult conditions.
“Everyone is vulnerable and susceptible to mental illness. The service is doing a good job in reaching out to the affected officers,” he said.
He urged Kanja to ensure that officers nearing retirement are posted next to their rural homes for proper management.
Murkomen also affirmed the government’s commitment to secure the country from internal and external aggression through the modernization of police equipment.
Last year, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki flagged off ten state-of-the-art Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) at the Port of Mombasa.