Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers and police held a high-level security meeting in Baringo County to address rising insecurity in the North Rift, days after the shooting of Catholic priest Father Alloyce Cheruiyot Bett.
The meeting, convened by Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Mohamed, took place at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) sub-centre in Marigat and brought together senior security officials, including the Baringo County Security and Intelligence Committee members, KDF officers, and commanders under Operation Maliza Uhalifu (OMU).
The forum aimed to review the effectiveness of current operations and coordinate enhanced security measures amid ongoing threats such as cattle rustling and banditry. Key discussions focused on improving collaboration, intelligence-sharing, and rapid response mechanisms among the deployed security agencies.
During the meeting, Major Felix Makenzi, representing Commander Operation Maliza Uhalifu, Brigadier Joel Arimi, urged sub-county security teams to hold regular localised security meetings in a bid to address the menace in the North Rift region.
Further, KDF appealed to the police officers to regularly involve the National Police Reservists (NPRs), the county security team, chiefs, and community representatives to encourage local solutions and facilitate early detection of emerging threats.
Major Makenzi said proactive engagement with local stakeholders would help ensure no issue goes unnoticed, adding that this grassroots approach would enhance vigilance and responsiveness.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohamed urged all security units to fully embrace innovations such as drone surveillance, real-time data integration, and secure digital communication platforms to significantly boost intelligence gathering and response efficiency.
This comes days after Father Bett was targeted by the assailants in the Tot area of Kerio Valley, Elgeyo Marakwet, with reports indicating that he was heading back to his base after delivering a sermon.
According to witnesses, the assailants launched attack on the priest moments after he concluded a Jumuiya (Small Christian Community) mass in Kakbiken village.
The attackers reportedly sprayed four bullets—three missed the priest and another individual he was with. One bullet struck the priest in the neck, killing him on the spot.
The killing has triggered mixed reactions across the region, with teachers and other civil servants threatening to down their tools if the government does not act swiftly to restore order.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lang’at, in a meeting with the concerned groups, urged them not to abandon their duties, assuring that security agencies were working to restore calm in the region.
