Inspector General of Police, Japheth Koome on Tuesday, April 2, announced the creation of a Multi-Agency Command Center for Isiolo, Meru, Laikipia and Samburu as a new measure to tackle banditry.
The Police Boss announced the measures in a high-level meeting held in Kabarnet, Baringo County where he met with other heads of police in the affected areas.
More measures will also feature the deployment of new specialised equipment within the regions.
Additionally, the IG confirmed that there were new police units formed to beef up security in the banditry-prone areas.
“We have now established a multi-agency command centre for Isiolo, Meru, Laikipia and Samburu, deployed additional new sophisticated equipment and Formed Police Units in the affected areas including Loruk and Mukogodo to beef up the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift,” read the statement in part.
Further, the IG expressed his faith in the new strategy noting that the previous creation of a multi-agency security team named the Chemolingot Multi-Agency Operation Centre had managed to quell the clashes in 2023.
“In February last year, the Government declared the security situation in six Counties namely Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu as a security emergency caused by rampant incidents of banditry,” explained Koome.
However, he cautioned the bandits noting that the government would not back down in the fight against banditry.
“Let me be clear, that whether the resurgence of these attacks is attributed to retaliations among members of communities, or collaboration among communities to attack members of other communities, or be they targeted attacks on security personnel and installations, expansionist tendencies or the commercialization of banditry as the case has been, my message to the bandits is one: stop or face the full force of the law,” explained Koome.
Additionally, the government noted that Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) would continue to be involved in the fight with them having already set up additional camps in Nolkera and Kurkur along the Malaso belt.
The banditry menace in the Northern counties has continued to surge, with bandits shifting tactics to target government officials and civilians alike in their attacks.
Police convoys and law enforcement officers have become victims of the incidents with one particular incident being on February 12 where a County Commisoner's car was ambushed and sprayed with bullets.
