Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki provided a brief on the ongoing joint security operation between the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) against the bandits.
On Friday, February 24, Kindiki revealed a command centre for the operation had been established at a location that he did not identify.
The CS further confirmed the deployment of both air and land military equipment for the fight against bandits was already complete.
"Adequate security personnel and land and air equipment have fully been deployed to ensure the logistical and operational success of our mission.
"Our troops are on the ground, complete with highly ranked the NPS and the KDF commanders who have met and synergized on a seamless operational approach," Kindiki explained.
CS Kindiki stated that the command centre will organise and direct troopers to flush out livestock-stealing armed bandits in Baringo, Samburu, Laikipia, Turkana, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties.
To ensure 100 per cent operation, the CS also reached an agreement with Uganda and South Sudan to bar bandits planning to flee for refuge over the operation.
"Kenya is currently engaged with its neighbors Uganda and South Sudan to ensure that we seal off all channels by which criminals may escape from one territorial jurisdiction another and those who are locked in those jurisdictions
Kitale Statement; by CS Interior; Security Operation in North Rift – February 24, 2023, are consigned there and dealt with in accordance with the law of those countries," Kindiki stated.
Senior officers at the command centre managed to seal off hideouts in order to keep them out of bounds for criminal bandits.
Kindiki explained that Kenyan troopers made several gains in action against the bandits, especially in the recovery of weapons from the bandits.
"Our troops are on the ground, complete with highly ranked the NPS and the KDF commanders who have met and synergised on a seamless operational approach," Kindiki explained.
CS Kindiki stated that the soldiers recovered a number of weapons including a special gun that is used by military forces to launch grenades.
"So far, we received 39 firearms, 136 rounds of ammunition and 1 FRG (Fragmented Rifle Grenade)," Kindiki revealed in a statement to the Press.
The soldiers and police officers also made numerous arrests of the suspected bandits, some of who staged daring attacks on the troopers.
"To date, 124 persons have been arrested for violating the curfew orders and have been arraigned in court," Kindiki noted.
