• Rift Valley regional commissioner Maalim Mohammed says they are now working with all stakeholders including elected leaders to come up with an effective plan.
• “My pledge is that we will work with all elected leaders and communities to ensure that we deal with banditry once and for all,” Mohammed said.
Image: BY MATHEWS NDANYI
The government is developing a roadmap and master plan to wipe out banditry in Kerio Valley and other affected counties.
Most affected counties include West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu, Turkana and Laikipia.
Rift Valley regional commissioner Maalim Mohammed says they are now working with all stakeholders including elected leaders to come up with an effective plan.
Some of the details in the roadmap have already been handed over to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who has been meeting governors and county commissioners to discuss the insecurity problem.
“My pledge is that we will work with all elected leaders and communities to ensure that we deal with banditry once and for all,” Mohammed said.
Part of the plan is to develop the infrastructure in the region including roads and electricity, put up more schools and also expand programmes to benefit the youth.
The commissioner said since he was posted in the region a few months ago the security situation had improved because he works closely with communities, leaders and security teams in the region.
“We have done some good work and we will work with the government of the day to ensure full peace and security in the region,” he said.
Mohammed said except for the recent attack in Turkana where several security officers were among those killed, the security situation in the region had largely improved.
Last weekend a section of senators and MPs in Rift Valley were pushing for tougher laws to help fight banditry in Kerio Valley and other parts of the country.
They want banditry classified as same as terrorism under the law.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said they were disturbed by the killings caused by bandits, who were operating in the same manner as terrorists.
He promised to lead in causing changes to the Anti-Terrorism Act so that it includes banditry crimes.
“When you as a bandit kill a family including children, then you are the same as a terrorist and we should not have any sympathy for such people,” Cherargei said.
The leaders spoke at a thanksgiving service attended by Gachagua at Koilel in Uasin Gishu on Sunday.
Other leaders included CS nominee for Roads Kipchumba Murkomen, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich, Senator Jackson Mandago and Rift Valley regional coordinator Maalim Mohammed.
Cherargei said the government should also consider investing in good roads in the Kerio Valley, to open up the region for other economic activities.
He said this will fight off banditry that has caused poverty and illiteracy among affected communities.
“Once Murkomen takes over as Roads CS, he should make sure that all roads in the region are opened up, so that it will be easier to deal with the banditry problem,” Cherargei said.
Murkomen said he is confident that President William Ruto’s administration would decisively deal with the banditry problem and restore lasting peace and security in Kerio Valley.
“We want to make sure Kerio Valley is turned from the valley of death to the valley of life,” he said.
Rotich said counties will also develop a plan to support the security systems to be put in the region.
“As counties we have discussed and we are very committed to working with the national government, churches among other institutions to ensure we wipe out banditry once and for all,” he said.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)