Military joins Turkana operation after Ruto order to end attacks

A multi-agency security operation has been launched in parts of Pokot and Turkana counties.

This follows the Saturday attack in Kakiteitei village, Turkana East subcounty.

Eleven people including eight police officers were killed and livestock stolen by gunmen.

President William Ruto issued an order for security agencies to deal firmly, decisively and conclusively with those involved in the attack and cattle rustling.

Military choppers were spotted in Lokori area ahead of the launch of the operation.

Officials said the choppers will give the teams on the ground air support and other logistics as the operation gets underway.

Acting Inspector General of police Noor Gabow said the aim of the operation is to arrest the perpetrators, recover the stolen animals, firearms and return normalcy to the area.

He urged residents to cooperate by volunteering information that may lead to arrest of the criminals and recovery of stolen animals.

“We will pursue them to their hideouts and ensure justice to the victims,” Gabow said.

The Kenyan team is liaising with Ugandan counterparts to stop any possible escape to the neighbouring country.

“At the border the Ugandan team has already beefed up security and we hope to stop any planned escape through there,” an official aware of the operation said.

Ruto had earlier said they are determined to end the practice of cattle rustling.

“I have instructed security agencies to deal firmly, decisively and conclusively with those involved. Cattle rustling will stop na sio tafadhali (I am not begging),” he said.

Other reports said an officer had committed suicide at Kapedo camp after learning his colleagues had been killed in the Saturday ambush.

The Kerio Valley stretch has in the past 13 years left up to 70 police officers and dozens of residents dead. Several animals have also been stolen in the period.

Attempts by successive governments to rein in on the gangs in the volatile area have bore no fruit.

The most deadly attack was in 2009 where 40 officers were killed followed by the 2014 incident where 21 others were killed in similar ambushes.

The victims of the latest attack included Napeitom chief Gilbert Lomukuny and former Samburu Health executive Mary Kanyaman.

Kanyaman was leading the officers to recover her father's livestock, which had been stolen.

Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai condemned the attack saying they are tired of mourning deaths of their family members and victims of bandit attacks.

He said the issue is getting out of hand with each murder that goes unpunished.

“Last month, 10 residents were burnt alive in Napeitom, when the same bandits torched their houses in the middle of the night,” Lomorukai said in a statement.

He said despite their calls for action, the criminals were never pursued and the affected families have not received justice.

The governor said in the past year, there have been similar attacks along the West Pokot- Baringo border, which has forced communities to flee.

“How many more innocent people and security personnel have to die before the government responds with the force that these terrorist acts deserve?” he said.

Lomorukai said incidents of police officers being killed by bandits while on duty in Turkana East have become too common and paint an alarming picture of the state of insecurity in the region.

“Security forces deployed to Turkana and across volatile regions in the North Rift need better support from the government, to combat the ever-increasing danger of bandit terror,” he said.

The governor supported an operation to mop up illicit arms in the hands of bandits in regions neighbouring Turkana East and Turkana South, as an immediate response to the incident.

He told Ruto to deliver on his promise to restore the National Police Reservists, who before their ill-advised disarmament, were critical in maintaining peace and security.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)