Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki on Monday, March 13, reviewed the vacation order to all civilians in banditry-prone areas that were declared scenes of crime.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, some areas were excluded while others were included.
The included areas were Ng’elecha Hills and Gorges, Ramacha and Losokoni Caves, Laramoru Gorges, Karau Hills, Noosidan Escarpment, Rugus Caves and the Amaya Gorges at the interface of Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu Counties.
"The orders issued at Malaso in Samburu County, requiring members of the public to vacate remote and inaccessible, gorges, escarpments, caves, ravines, hills and forests harbouring dangerously armed criminals is hereby reviewed," the statement read in part.
The areas excluded from the vacation orders include Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lobokat, Lokoron, the Turkwell Escarpment and Ombollion areas within Turkana and West Pokot Counties.
Moreover, the CS gave a 24-hour window for civilians in the stated areas to vacate warning that those found would be treated as suspects of armed robbery.
"Members of the public should vacate these areas within 24 hours commencing today 13th March 2023 7:30 PM.
"Any member of the public found in the spaces specified in this paragraph after Tuesday 14th March 2023 7:30 PM will be treated as a suspect of armed banditry, or as a suspect of aiding and abetting banditry," Kindiki warned.
Earlier on Sunday, March 12, the CS revealed that in the past seven months, over 135 Kenyans including 20 security officers had been killed by bandits.
He explained that the review of the measures was meant to allow the government to upscale security operations in the areas because of the continued attack on the security officers and their equipment by the bandits.
"In the last 25 days, we have engaged in meticulous intelligence gathering to establish the identity, stature and sophistication of the network perpetuating violence in this Northern part of our Country," Kindiki stated.
He stated that despite the notice given of the voluntary surrender of firearms issued there were thousands of guns and ammunition that were still withheld by the bandits.
Further, the CS warned that the security agencies deployed in the areas would be flashing out the bandits and extracting them from their hideouts.
Meanwhile, Turkana South Member of Parliament (MP) John Namoit on Monday, March 13 questioned the practicality of the vacation order.
"I disagree in totality with the order and do ask the CS to explore additional ways that they can use to protect the livelihoods of Kenyans living in these area.
"These Kenyans do not have immediate areas of refuge and their properties should be protected instead of ordering them to vacate," stated Namoit.
