Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, has issued tough instructions to security officials in the volatile North Rift region. Matiang'i, who met leaders from Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo and West Pokot counties in Nakuru, said the government had committed to addressing the rising cases of banditry once and for all.
During the security meeting held on Friday, February 4, tough-speaking CS and the leaders resolved that tough measures needed to be instituted to curb banditry in the pastoral region.
Matiang'i and the government officials recommended the arrest and prosecution of political leaders and government officials misusing the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and government (GK) vehicles to source and distribute guns and ammunition and to coordinate attacks.
He also approved an immediate crackdown operation to evict invaders in the Muchongoi area of Baringo South and further directed that the deployment be ruthless and to employ maximum available power including aerial operations.
The leaders also proposed the immediate recruitment of National Police Reservists in the affected area to beef up security and construction of an Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) camp in Chesogon, West Pokot County.
Further, the leaders recommended the deployment of five police platoons to beef up security between the borders of Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties.
Matiang'i, who was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, also ordered the immediate arrest of cultural leaders administering oaths to ‘bless’ banditry and other invasion missions.
The government leaders stated that they are committed to urgently working on protecting schools to enable affected learning institutions to reopen.
During the meeting, the leaders noted that the government will consult and appeal to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on the possibility of making special arrangements to help those unable to register as voters in areas affected by banditry to do so.
Further, the leaders proposed that the government should support funeral arrangements for those killed in Kerio Valley in recent banditry attacks.
Barely a week ago, three people were shot dead in Kerio Valley as violence in the region continued to intensify.
The three were on their way to condole with a bereaved family when they were attacked and killed by the bandits outside a school.
