Security forces in the North Rift region have raised questions over the tactics used by criminals to carry out their operations.
Reports indicate that bandits in Northern Kenya incorporate a blend of gun control techniques as well as evasion tactics, skills that are taught in the military.
Various security officers have come out to allege that former soldiers are behind the training of the criminals.
"These criminals are normally illiterate people who did not attend any school. Though children in that community get exposed to guns at a young age, they employ other skills when fighting that makes us suspect that they get extra training," former police reservist Joseph Chesang noted.
Some of the tactics used by the criminals involve hiding ammunition in jerrycans. The bandits tend to use sophisticated weapons such as AK47 and G3 rifles during their attacks.
Further, when planning a raid in an area nearby a police camp, the bandits split into groups and surround the station to counter police officers who might respond to the distress calls.
A security officer in the North Rift region noted that bandits carried out surveillance on areas perceived as targets and have spies who give them inside information. This also involves the use of high-tech devices to hack and retrieve intelligence reports vital to the raid.
In order to effectively communicate during planned raids, reports indicate that the criminals use reflections of mirrors to pass information.
For instance, raiders who hide on hills and on top of buildings use mirrors to alert their counterparts when they spot police officers coming from a particular direction.
Recently, another crafty tactic in the bandits' arsenal is the destruction of communication masts. This disables communications among police officers and also prevents residents from alerting security officers in case of an attack.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, George Natembeya recently confirmed a multi-agency team had been formed in order to flush the bandits within the North rift region that has been prevalent of attacks.
He also warned politicians that they risk arrest for inciting the public during their speeches.
