A section of residents and stakeholders in Tana River County have raised concerns over what they describe as an unequal recruitment and arming of Kenya Police Reserve (KPR) units.
They warned that the situation could worsen already fragile inter-community relations in the region.
But police argued their moves are aimed at restoring stability and security following renewed inter community attacks that have left many dead, injured and displaced.
In a formal communication to the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, residents allege that KPR recruitment and deployment has been perceived as favouring one community over others, a claim they say risks undermining trust in state security operations.
The concerns come at a time when the government is undertaking a nationwide disarmament exercise, which has seen communities in Tana River voluntarily surrender illegal firearms under a 60-day amnesty programme.
According to local accounts, more than 20 firearms have been handed in during the ongoing operation.
However, residents warn that despite these gains, perceptions of imbalance in security reinforcement could reverse progress made in peace-building efforts.
The region has experienced repeated incidents of inter-communal violence in recent months.
On March 27, 2026, clashes in the Tangamano cluster reportedly left at least 10 people injured. Earlier incidents along the Tana River–Kitui border in April resulted in several fatalities, while violence in December 2025 left at least 14 people dead and displaced more than 1,800 residents.
Security analysts and peace actors have previously linked the recurring clashes to competition over scarce resources, particularly water and pasture, worsened by persistent drought conditions.
Stakeholders now warn that any perception of unfairness in the arming or deployment of KPR officers could escalate tensions further and potentially trigger retaliatory attacks across neighbouring counties, including Kitui.
In the letter, the stakeholders have urged the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to conduct a transparent audit of KPR recruitment and arming processes in the county, and to ensure equitable representation across all communities.
They also propose the establishment of an inclusive oversight mechanism involving community leaders, as well as strengthened multi-agency peace initiatives incorporating the National Police Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), and local administrators.
In a letter written by businessman Mohamed Athman, the locals urged for depoliticization of security affairs in the area.
“The politicians are misleading government officials in this issue and we urge them to stop and ensure they listen to the locals for the sake of peace and stability,” he said.
Additionally, they are calling for enhanced cross-county security coordination between Tana River and Kitui to prevent escalation of tensions along the porous border.
The government has been running a campaign to disarm local communities for stability. This followed a series of attacks by gunmen which left about five people dead and some displaced.
The clashes have been linked to resources in the area.
Coast police boss Ali Nuno said they are determined to restore normalcy in the area and urged for cooperation among all stakeholders.
“We are on the ground to help all and ensure there is stability. We are not favouring any community,” he said.
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