Many from Kenya's
Provincial Administration
who served in the harsh and
arduous Northern Frontier
District (NFD) remember with
affection the gallant tribal
policemen, known locally as
Dubas.
The Dubas were raise as a desert commando by the
Provincial Commissioner (PC)
of the day, Sir Gerald Reece.
These Dubas had to be chosen
from the sons of influential
men and be of proven courage.
As a former DC once observed,
"Without them working among
their own people as Police and
messengers, the administration
of the NFD would have quickly
come to a halt."
The Dubas wore a distinctive
uniform consisting of a snow white
robe slung over one
shoulder and kept in place by
a bandolier around their waist
plus their blood-red turbans.
The Dubas were drawn from
the main tribes of the district
- Somali, Boran, Gabbra,
Samburu, Rendille and a few
Turkana.
While on duty or on safari,
they always carried their rifles
because of the danger from
shifta (bandits). I had a Dubas
escort whenever I went down
country to Nanyuki to co llect
cash for the sta tion from the
local bank.
Once Sir Gerald had his
senior Goan clerk Mr Francis
da Lima work late one evening
in lsiolo. Seeing it was quite dark, Sir Gerald sent da Lima
home with an armed Dubas
escort to protect him from the
wild animals, The Dubas had a
human side as well. A young.
tough-looking Dubas came to
our Marsabit home soon after
we'd returned from our down
country honeymoon carrying
a bunch of fireball lillies, which
he duly presented to my wife.
In the late 1940s some
Dubas were sent to "The
Country Comes to Town"
Show in Nairobi. Sir Gerald
received a letter from Nairobi
saying the Dubas must wear
more clothing since someone
dressed in nothing but a
double-width white robe might
strike some people in Nairobi
as indecent. Sir Gerald retorted
with the customary twitch uf
his nose,
The memory of the
unforgettable Dubas of the
NFD in their dazzling scarlet
turbans and snow-white robes
haunts me to this day.
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