Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has directed the creation of a GSU camp and seven new administrative divisions in West Pokot in a sustained battle against banditry and cattle rustling in North Rift.
Kindiki toured the county on Thursday, visiting the various areas where the KDF and police are jointly combating banditry.
At a security baraza in the Sarmach area of Sigor constituency, the CS said that the officers involved in the operation have been re-energised to wipe out armed bandits hiding in the gorges.
To ensure return to normalcy and deter any re-emergence of the bandits. The CS said that the new GSU camp will provide rapid response services in the region.
"I have directed the immediate establishment of a GSU Camp at Lami Nyeusi. Security of our people is paramount and non-negotiable," he said.
"A thief has no tribe, a thief is a thief. The government doesn't believe in collective condemnation of communities."
Besides the establishment of the camp, the state is mobilising more security personnel armed with modern equipment for effectiveness to the area.
"We shall establish more formed units in areas that are insecure and bring in specialised officers and equipment to deal with complex security threats such as banditry and terrorism," he said.
He also announced that the seven new divisions will be created immediately and civil servants doing administrative services will be deployed.
"I have directed the immediate establishment of 7 divisions in West Pokot County and deployment of government officers by Friday next week," he said.
The policy decision by the CS follows a similar action earlier in the week when he visited Turkana County and ordered the creation of four new subcounties.
And as the anti-bandit operation bears fruits with returning of stolen livestock and resumption of peace, Kindiki said schools destroyed by bandits and the operation will be reconstructed.
"All schools that were closed as a result of banditry must be reopened. All schools whose infrastructure was vandalised by bandits will be reconstructed by KDF officers supported by NYS officers," the CS said.
"The government will spend Sh100 million to restore and reconstruct all the schools destroyed."
Kindiki also urged the local community to voluntarily return illegal firearms or the state will use force to disarm them.
He said the voluntary disarmament drive was part of the agenda to restore peace and security in the area.
"While the government will recruit and deploy National Police Reservists to supplement security offered by police officers, all firearms illegally in the hands of civilians must be surrendered, or we use lawful means to disarm those in possession," he said.
"We will do our best to silence the guns in North Rift Valley, Upper Eastern, North Eastern, and Upper Coast regions. Once this is done, the government has an extensive martial plan to develop these regions because they are a critical pillar in Kenya’s economic growth and future."
