Bandits in insecurity-prone areas on Saturday, March 11, devised a new way to counter security agencies deployed in the region by the government.
This was after they launched four simultaneous attacks in different regions a situation that saw the security presence in the region stretched thin.
The attacks were conducted in Laikipia, Samburu, Baringo and Turkana counties which left 2 people dead, scores injured and hundreds of livestock stolen.
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki flew to Samburu for a high-level security meeting with regional security officials.
In Turkana County, the attacks left one person dead, four seriously injured and two reportedly missing together with hundreds of livestock.
In Laikipia County, a similar attack killed one person and scores of livestock stolen.
Leaders complained that the joint Kenya Defence Forces and National Police Service operation was not effective.
“Until today, we have lost lives and all this has been brought by the government’s failure to provide a quick response,” Laikipia County Governor Joshua Irung’u led the community in faulting the government.
Laikipia County Police Commander John Nyoike dismissed the governor’s sentiments appraising the public on what security forces were doing in the region to combat banditry.
“Immediately after the attacks we coordinated with police officers on the ground and we are now closing in on the bandits,” he assured the public.
In Samburu County, one person was shot dead and another injured as the bandits escaped with stolen livestock.
Remarking on the attacks Kindiki announced on Friday, March 10, "I will shortly announce very drastic measures to ensure that we liberate the country from the jaws and claws of these terrorists."
"We know all the tricks that these criminals are using, including mixing with innocent people; men, women and children, while using them as human shields," he added.
The deadly attacks came at the backdrop of leaders mostly drawn from the Kenya Kwanza coalition asking President William Ruto to suspend the joint KDF-NPS operations in the region.
Led by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and his Nandi counterpart Samson Cherargei, over 20 members of parliament drawn from North Rift urged the President on Wednesday, March 8 to invoke Article 241(3) of the Kenyan Constitution.
Should Ruto invoke the Article, police officers in the region would be taken off the operation and KDF solely handle the operation.
Despite the pressure from the parliamentarians for police officers to cede ground for KDF, Kindiki on Thursday, March 9, revealed that security officers were close to permanently solving the banditry menace.
Kindiki stated that 140 assorted guns which were being used by bandits had been recovered.
He noted though that this came at a cost as more than 100 civilians and 16 police officers had been killed by bandits and cattle rustlers from North Rift Valley.
