Former Uhuru Bodyguard Ranka Appointed North Eastern Regional Police Commander
A former chief bodyguard for President Uhuru Kenyatta has been appointed the new North Eastern Regional Police Commander (RPC) as part of recent changes.
Starting August 13, Papita Ranka, the ex-bodyguard will assume the role of RPC for the region, focusing on combating terrorism and smuggling.
Ranka succeeds Bundi Muriithi, who has been reassigned to police headquarters.
A Recce-trained officer with extensive experience in VIP protection, Ranka’s new posting is seen as a career development opportunity.
The changes were announced by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Kenya Police Eliud Lagat.
Lagat also made adjustments to police leadership in Garissa and Mandera Counties, replacing Samuel Mutunga and John Sichei with new commanders.
Kwale’s police chief, Stephen Ngetich, has been transferred to police headquarters, with Ali Nuno taking over his position.
At the DCI, Wilhem Kimutai of the Land Fraud Unit has been succeeded by Juma Mashua from the Internal Affairs Unit.
Authorities indicated that these adjustments aim to strengthen operations, particularly in North Eastern regions facing a surge in al-Shabaab militant attacks.
On August 9, gunmen in Mandera East killed the driver of a Deputy County Commissioner and stole his official vehicle, which has not yet been recovered.
The area has seen multiple incidents amidst ongoing efforts to address the violence.
On July 24, an explosion at a Mandera town eatery injured five people.
Earlier, on July 11, suspected al-Shabaab militants ambushed a group, killing five Special Operations Group (SOG) members and injuring six others near the Banisa/Derkale border in Mandera West.
On April 5, an IED explosion near a police station in Elwak town resulted in six deaths and five injuries.
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Another blast on March 25 at a hotel near a Mandera town police station killed four people.
On August 5, a multi-agency team conducted raids targeting al-Shabaab positions in Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa Counties.
An intelligence-led operation at the Mandera-Wajir border uncovered hidden items, including AK47 and PKM ammunition, medical supplies, drugs, and water-filled jerricans.
In Garissa County, a joint security team engaged with five suspected al-Shabaab militants in Adan Santur after receiving distress calls from locals about camel thefts.
Two camels were recovered and returned to their owners, who thanked the security forces for their swift action.
The militants, some injured, escaped in a damaged white Toyota Probox vehicle, crossing into Somalia.
The border area, frequently breached by terror groups, has seen increased security measures.
Local cooperation with security agencies is crucial, as attacks often occur with local knowledge.
This increased vigilance follows concerns that the terror group might be planning further attacks after a period of inactivity.
The border region has suffered repeated militant attacks, sometimes aided by locals, in the context of Somalia’s ongoing instability since Siad Barre’s regime ended in 1991.
Terrorists continue to plant explosives on routes used by security forces, while Kenyan troops in Somalia aim to suppress their activities. Despite this, the terrorists persist in crossing into Kenya to launch attacks.
Former Uhuru Bodyguard Ranka Appointed North Eastern Regional Police Commander
