GARISSA, Kenya, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government said Wednesday it will recruit more Kenya Police Reservists (KPR) to help intensify patrols along the Somalia border.
North Eastern regional commissioner Mohamed Birik told journalists that the reservists which normally complement Kenyan police efforts in community policing, will boost security along the porous border that the Somalia-based al-Shabab terror group have been using to make incursions into the country.
"The reservists will greatly boost the strength of our security officers patrolling the porous border. They will closely work with the chiefs and their assistants on daily engagements," Birik told journalists in Garissa.
"Majority of those to be recruited are retired security officers who left the service with good track records. We shall thoroughly vet them," he added.
The regional government official said the reservists are among several measures the government wants to put in place to 'secure' the border and stop attacks perpetuated by the al-Shabab.
Birik urged the residents to continue volunteering information on suspicious characters within their midst.
"We are not out of the woods yet. More needs to be done. I thank the people of this region for the support they have given to us of which we could not have made the gains we are proud of today," he said.
Somali militants have staged a string of attacks in Kenya, including April 2, 2015 massacre at Garissa University that left 148 students dead and a 2013 assault on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall that killed 67.
Birik declined to reveal the number to be recruited for security reasons, saying security will be intensified along the common frontier.
Kenya continues to suffer several attacks as terrorists change tuck to beat heightened security and carry on with their heinous acts undetected.
In the recent past, there have been numerous attacks involving landmines, grenades, or other explosive devices in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties by the insurgents.
The Somali militants have been targeting military and police vehicles either by laying an ambush or planting explosives on the road in northeast region especially in Mandera and Garissa counties.
