Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo on Sunday, April 21, revealed a radical shift in how the government would deal with the issue of banditry going forward.
Speaking in Siaya County during burial preparations of Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla, the PS revealed that the general had prepared a framework on how to deal with banditry and cattle rustling in the North Rift.
PS Omollo remarked that going forward, fighting bandits will not solely focus on silencing guns using bullets from security officials.
Noteworthy, the Interior PS was among the last people CDF Ogolla communicated with before the fatal chopper crash on Thursday, April 18.
“We did have several discussions, particularly with the situation in the North Rift. The clarity of mind was there in terms of how to deal with the banditry and cattle rustling in the North Rift,” PS Omollo stated.
“On that fateful day, the General was not going to fight bandits using bullets. He was on an inspection tour of schools because the challenge in North Rift with banditry is we have a situation where schools are closed denying students access to Education.”
He explained that in line with CDF Ogolla’s vision, the government would look for all avenues to ensure everyone has a fair chance in life particularly through education.
The PS remarked that Ogolla was passionate about alternative ways of ending banditry and had even sponsored many students.
PS Omollo remarked that fighting banditry would go beyond building schools and look at the rehabilitation of different social amenities.
“Through coordination between the Interior Ministry and Defence, we have also roped other ministries and developed a masterplan beyond silencing of guns in North Rift and working on social amenities in health, environment, education and other sectors,” he explained.
The issue of banditry has been a perennial problem in the North Rift leading to loss of lives and livestock.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers and the National Police Service (NPS) are conducting a joint security operation in the region to eliminate banditry and cattle rustling in the country.
