The government will roll out a major youth empowerment programme in Kerio Valley after completing the ongoing security and disarmament exercise in a month.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen said the initiative will focus on rehabilitating and creating opportunities for young people who agree to abandon cattle rustling and reform into productive members of society.
“We will completely transform the entire region and ensure that no one is left behind in efforts to restore security and lasting peace in Kerio Valley,” Murkomen said.
The CS was speaking in Cherangany constituency, Trans Nzoia county.
Present were Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich, MPs Joseph Wainaina and Oscar Sudi, and Elgeyo Marakwet Woman Representative Caroline Ngelechei.
Murkomen said President William Ruto will visit the region at the end of the disarmament programme to launch the empowerment initiative, which will cover the entire Kerio Valley.
The CS said more than 100 guns have been surrendered by bandits in recent days, signalling what he described as the near end of banditry in the region. He said 50 firearms were surrendered on Saturday, 45 on Friday and another 20 the previous day.
“I want to thank our people in Kerio Valley for agreeing that we must end banditry once and for all,” Murkomen said.
“We know where all illegal guns are, and we ask those who still have them to surrender before we come for them.”
He said Ruto had pledged that his administration would be the one to wipe out banditry, and this was now being achieved.
The CS said the empowerment programme will ensure that youth in Kerio Valley earn decent livelihoods.
He said the government has set aside more than Sh1 billion to open up the entire region, particularly Tiaty, which was previously inaccessible.
“Bandits will not have any hideouts in Kerio Valley,” the CS said.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and the governors praised Murkomen for spearheading the fight against banditry.
Sudi urged those still in possession of firearms to surrender them voluntarily before the government resorts to force.
“CS Murkomen, please pile pressure on them and don’t relent. Let them leave if they won’t surrender the guns,” Sudi said.
On their part, the governors, led by Rotich, said the restoration of peace and security would reopen Kerio Valley for development activities.
“We fully support the government’s efforts so far because our people in Kerio Valley can now live peacefully like other Kenyans,” Rotich said.
