The government will deploy the Kenya Army in Baringo and other volatile areas in the North Rift in a move poised to quell insecurity in the North Rift and other counties affected by banditry.
Kenya Army Western Commandant David Tarus, on Friday, January 7, toured Baringo County and convened a meeting that brought together elected leaders and administrators from the area.
According to the Major General, the military will open up remote areas by constructing roads and other supporting infrastructure.
The roads, he explained, will connect the remote areas and consequently boost socio-economic activities in the region.
Major General Tarus further allayed the fear associated with the deployment of KDF, arguing that the intervention will be more development-oriented rather than an operation.
"We open up the roads that lead to Turkana, West Pokot and Nakuru so that it is easy for the security personnel to move and for the civilians to trade and perform other economic activities," Tarus stated.
“We are really not going to do KDF operations. We want to tell the residents that the security apparatus deployed here will help provide security for the locals to do business," he added.
Tiaty Member of Parliament William Kamaket, who was also present, lauded the move, arguing that the region had been left out in development by the previous governments.
Other political leaders also called for the construction of other amenities, including schools, churches and health centres.
The new move came a few days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki hinted at plans to involve the military, which often comes as a last resort in confronting security threats amid heightened banditry activities.
“We cannot afford to have a country where citizens live in constant fear and we will not spare any effort even if it means using KDF,” he stated.
President William Ruto committed to confronting insecurity in the country in his tenure as the Head of State. He assured that his administration would employ all means available to curb bandit attacks.
"I have instructed security agencies to deal firmly, decisively and conclusively with those involved. Cattle rustling will stop na sio tafadhali," Ruto cautioned.
