Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has assured that the government in the next four months will manage to flush out bandits in the war-torn North Rift region.
Kindiki pointed out that the robust security operation by the multi-agency team dubbed ‘Maliza Uhalifu’ has made significant progress even though the seven affected counties have continued to report incidences of cattle theft and killings.
The Interior Boss revealed that the security operations have managed to recover 7,147 livestocks,646 illegal firearms and 285 rounds of ammunitions.
“Cases of cross border animal raids/banditry have reduced significantly with members of the public welcoming the move,” he said.
Appearing before the National Security and Administration Committee, Kindiki told lawmakers the move to flush bandits from their hideouts has been effective in reducing insecurity in disturbed regions.
“Many bandits escaped during the 24-hour public notice for vacation from disturbed areas. The bandits are regrouping. We will ensure no one return to the disturbed areas where criminals used to hide. We have credible information some bandits are trying to return but we will not allow them,”he said.
As normalcy resumes in some of the disturbed areas, the Ministry of Interior will next month start restoration of education through construction of schools, revamp agriculture and construct road.
The multi-agency security team spearheading the operation has flushed out the bandits from the gorges, valleys, escarpments, and hills that they had turned into their hideouts.
On March 13, Kindiki ordered the immediate vacation of residents living in 27 gorges, escarpments, caves, ravines, hills, and forests as a security forces moved in to expel bandits.
The affected areas in Baringo included Korkoron Hills, Tandare Valley and Silale Gorges.In Laikipia, Kindiki said disturbed areas included Mukogodo Forest, Kamwenje, Warero and Ndonyoriwo, Lekuruki Hills, Losos, and Kiape Caves, and Sieku Valley.
In Samburu, government listed Ltungai Conservancy, Longewan, Nasuur, Lochokia and Lekadaar Escarpments; Lolmolok Caves, Pura Valley, Malaso Escarpment and Suguta Valley. BY CAPITAL NEWS