The Kenyan security agencies will work with their Ugandan counterparts to combat banditry in the North Rift.
This development was announced by Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo on Monday, February 20, a week after President William Ruto deployed the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to combat insecurity in the North Rift counties.
“In our continued efforts to offer a lasting solution to the banditry menace and restore order in the North Rift Counties of Kenya, we will go out of the way to consult widely.
“In regard to that, a delegation from Kenya held a high-level security mission with the Uganda authorities in Moroto, Uganda,” the PS announced in a statement.
The PS did not reveal if Uganda’s security agencies would provide technical support to KDF troops already on the ground to end banditry and restore peace.
Omollo, however, disclosed that the two governments further discussed mutual partnerships and cordial relations.
“We revisited the Cross-Boarder Programme for Sustainable Peace and Development Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that the two governments signed on September 12, 2019, at Moroto, Uganda,” he stated.
While appreciating the MOU, the PS announced that it has several glaring loopholes that should be sealed.
“The MOU has pacified the region and curbed insecurity, but it is still imperative to collectively address the socio-economic challenges along the borders of Turkana County (Kenya) and the Karamoja Region (Uganda),” he remarked.
Reports claimed that the MOU outlined how the two countries would work in the Turkana and Karamoja regions to end poverty and ensure peace and prosperity for the neighbouring communities.
Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Rebecca Miano accompanied PS Omollo to the inter-governmental meeting.
Ruto, on February 13, ordered a joint Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and police security operation in all bandit-prone areas.
However, North Rift residents and political and security analysts urged the president to contact his Ugandan counterpart to thwart bandits fleeing from Kenya.
