Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced the government’s plan to use special forces to end banditry in seven counties in the North Rift.
He said this is part of the President's commitment to end banditry.
“This is the government that will end banditry and other criminal gangs,” Duale said.
He spoke at Friends Moi High School Kaptama during a funds drive to aid the construction of the dining hall. The drive raised Sh11 million.
Some of the North Rift counties affected by banditry include, Laikipia, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Turkana and Samburu.
"We will treat banditry the way we treat al-shaababs along the Somalia borders,” Duale said.
He urged the youth, who are interested in joining the Kenyan Defence Force, to shun drugs.
“We don’t want drug addicts in the forces, if you have any ambition that one day you will join the forces please avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and other drug substances,” Duale said.
He praised President William Ruto for making tough decisions to strengthen the economy.
“Immediately after President Ruto took over power, Kenya became peaceful and the Shilling has gone up against the dollar,” Duale said.
The former Garissa Township MP praised Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Mithika Linturi for closing the company that distributed the fake fertiliser.
He called for the arraignment of the culprits saying the fake fertiliser is sabotaging President's subsidy programme
Duale said the government is fully behind opposition leader Raila Odinga's bid for the African Union chairmanship job.
“Odinga [Raila] is the person who fought us and supported our demotion but because we are good people we are behind his AU’s bid,” he said.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, Deputy Governor Jenipher Mbatiany, Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet, Health and Sanitation PS Harry Kimtai and other MPs attended the fundraiser.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa said bandits continue to paralyse operations in the North Rift despite the millions spent to fight them.
"Only learners in constituencies in the North Rift are not going to school because of bandits. We cannot accept that, they should be fought by all means,” he said.
