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The government has deployed 592 rangers into the National Police Reservists (NPRs) in Narok to boost security.

National government has since appealed to county governments to support it to strengthen the operational capacity of NPRs.

Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo (pictured) said the desired partnership was a priority agenda to curb security challenges such as banditry, poaching, perennial human wildlife conflict, illegal logging and environmental degradation.

The newly recruited officers will be under the command of the Narok County Police Commander.

The former county rangers have undergone paramilitary training at the General Service Unit (GSU) Training School, Administration Police Training School, Kenya Forestry Service in Londiani and the Kenya Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Academy in Manyani

Omollo, who was speaking during the launch of the Narok NPRs at Keekorok lodge, Maasai Mara National Reserve, said the officers had been vetted before deployment and had been issued with 464 modern guns to replace the Mark 4 rifles they were using.

He said NPRs will be properly armed and equipped to enable them discharge their duties.

“This is a model we want to employ in the rest of the country, particularly in counties with similar challenges like Narok,” the PS said.