Uasin Gishu Governor has urged the national government to come up with long-term solutions to insecurity in several parts of the Rift Valley.
He said insecurity persists because of the short-term measures adopted by the government. Mandago urged the Interior ministry to involve counties in curbing the problem.
"There is no way the ministry can run security without involving counties as locals have simple solutions to some of these challenges," he told the press.
"Going forward, counties must have a role in security matters. This is an issue that would have been addressed with the County Police Oversight Authority that was shelved and never operationalised."
Mandago said the government should roll out irrigation projects in the volatile areas, build more schools and open up roads.
"These are the recommendations we gave the government and could easily find a solution to the security issue, but they have never been implemented," he said.
The county chief, who is the chair of the North Rift Economic Bloc, further said stern action should be taken against any politician found to have incited people to violence in Laikipia.
Similar sentiments were shared by Soy MP Caleb Kositany, who cautioned Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and Rift Valley regional coordinator George Natembeya against treating security matters casually.
"As the governor has noted, we need to look at lasting solutions. Insecurity in the volatile Laikipia county is a perennial issue," he church.
The MP urged Laikipia residents to maintain peace. He further appealed to bandits to refrain from attacking and killing innocent Kenyans.
