Leaders from the North Rift counties, on Sunday, April 23, demanded President William Ruto take charge of the operation launched to flush out bandits.
Speaking at a funeral service of five locals killed by bandits, the politicians accused Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki of sidelining them in the exercise.
West Pokot senator, Julius Murgor, explained that President Ruto needed to declare his stand on the conflict.
"We respect the government and want you, the President, to explain the government's position and chart the way forward on the same," Murgor remarked.
His sentiments were reiterated by Sekerr Member of County Assembly (MCA) Jane Mengich, who advocated for leaders from the region to convene and address the menace permanently.
"Please give us a listening ear. Take your time and listen to leaders from our neighbours and call us together for dialogue as the head of this nation," Mengich pleaded.
Meanwhile, locals demanded more results from the operation and questioned why locals were still succumbing to bandit attacks.
A week earlier, Samburu West Member of Parliament (MP) Naisula Lesuuda threatened to lead demonstrations at Kindiki's office over a lack of progress in the multi-agency operation.
Lesuuda argued that bandits still attacked members of her community despite military deployment. She also argued that Kindiki forced residents to vacate their homes but were yet to see the fruits of his directives.
Appearing before the National Assembly on April 12, Kindiki maintained that the operation was progressive as stolen heads of cattle and firearms were recovered.
The Interior Boss added that he would pitch camp in the North Rift to monitor the operation.
"We have dominated the permanent abodes where the suspected bandits were hiding whenever they steal livestock, but when we issued out the vacation notice to residents, some of these criminals could have mixed with the population," Kindiki, however, lamented.
“We are (nonetheless) up-scaling the numbers of security agents we have. We are doubling them, and as I have announced, this deployment will not cease with the end of the operation," he added.
