Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) escalated its presence in the North Rift on Monday, March 13, after residents lamented that they had witnessed little action geared towards flashing out bandits.
In phase two of the war against bandits, KDF added more soldiers and artillery to the troubled North.
The cavalry was deployed a day after Interior Security Cabinet Security (CS) Kithure Kindiki ordered locals to vacate bandit-infested regions.
A convoy of military trucks found its way into troubled Baringo County on Monday, March 13 afternoon, ready to quell insecurity that has dogged the region for decades.
The heavy firepower was expected to reclaim regions cattle rustlers and bandits had overrun.
KDF's latest move came after security agencies were criticised heavily over how they were handling the insecurity issue.
On Monday, February 13, President William Ruto ordered a joint operation involving KDF and National Police Service to flush out bandits in Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
The United States government further boosted the joint operation, allowing Kenya to use their satellite images to pinpoint the bandits’ exact locations.
Despite the extra manpower and logistical support, banditry continued to be a thorny issue, with attacks against security officers escalating.
On Sunday, March 12, Kindiki revealed that in the last seven months, over 135 Kenyans, including 20 security officers, were killed by bandits.
This was against the backdrop of the bandits devising new tactics to outsmart security officers.
On Friday, March 3, security agencies bombed suspected hideouts of the bandits, only for the bandits to resurface two days later to raid Seretion village in Mochongoi ward, Baringo South Constituency.
On Saturday, March 11, the bandits, raided four regions, simultaneously overwhelming security forces.
The coordinated attacks were done in Laikipia, Samburu, Baringo and Turkana counties, leaving 2 people dead, scores injured and hundreds of livestock stolen.
Following the spate of attacks, CS Kindiki vowed to name security bosses, politicians and locals funding and supporting bandits in their war against KDF.
