Silverio Omari
Papita Ranka, a former lead bodyguard to President Uhuru Kenyatta, was appointed as the new North Eastern Regional Police Commander (RPC) in a series of changes announced on Tuesday. Ranka, who will assume his new role on August 13, is expected to spearhead efforts against terrorism and smuggling in the region. He replaces Bundi Muriithi, who has been recalled to police headquarters.
Ranka is a highly trained Recce officer with extensive experience in VIP protection, and his assignment to this region is seen as an opportunity for career growth. The changes were announced by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Kenya Police, Eliud Lagat.
Additionally, all police commanders in Garissa and Mandera Counties were reassigned. Mandera County Police Commander Samuel Mutunga and his Garissa counterpart John Sichei were both moved to new posts, with new commanders assigned to their positions. In Kwale County, Police Boss Stephen Ngetich was transferred to police headquarters and replaced by Ali Nuno.
At the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Wilhem Kimutai, head of the Land Fraud Unit, was replaced by Juma Mashua from the Internal Affairs Unit.
These changes are part of a broader strategy to strengthen operations, particularly in North Eastern Kenya, which has seen an uptick in attacks by al-Shabaab militants. Recent incidents in the region include the killing of a Deputy County Commissioner’s driver in Mandera East on August 9, and several other attacks that have resulted in casualties and injuries.
In response to the increasing threat, security forces have intensified operations, conducting intelligence-led raids targeting al-Shabaab hideouts across Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa Counties. In one operation near the Mandera-Wajir border, a joint security team recovered weapons, medical supplies, and other items hidden by militants. In another operation in Garissa County, security forces clashed with suspected al-Shabaab militants who had been harassing local residents, successfully recovering stolen camels.
The region, which borders Somalia, remains a hotspot for cross-border attacks by terror groups. The Kenyan government continues to deploy additional personnel and resources to curb these attacks, urging local communities to cooperate with security agencies. The ongoing threat from al-Shabaab underscores the challenges faced by security forces in maintaining stability in the border areas, exacerbated by Somalia’s prolonged instability since the fall of Siad Barre’s regime in 1991.
Dj Vnyash
