• Speaking on Wednesday, Natembeya said the deaths happened before the security operation began on Tuesday.
• “Civilians who have been injured with bullets are four while injured police officers are two,” he said.
Eight people have been killed from Laikipia bandit attacks in the past month, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya has said.
Of the eight, three are police officers enforcing security in the region, while five are civilians.
Speaking on Wednesday, Natembeya said the deaths happened before the security operation began on Tuesday.
“Civilians who have been injured with bullets are four while injured police officers are two,” he said.
Natembeya noted that no attacks have occurred since the multi-agency security operation began.
“No arson incident, injuries, displacements or deaths have been reported. We have also provided security to those leaving the area so that they are not harassed,” he said.
Natembeya warned politicians to keep off Laikipia insisting that this is not the time for them to politic.
He accused area leaders of financing the youth causing unrest in the region by providing them with food and guns, as they continue with their raids.
"We have received reports that some of the owners of the livestock are saying they remove them from the ranches and bring 500 Morans to fight with the security officers. This means that these are planned attacks to ensure the area has no peace," Natembeya said.
National Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso said the security operation has led to the exit of illegal herders from the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.
He also refuted reports of an arson attack on Merigwiti Primary school as widely reported by the media, saying that the matter is being investigated.
The fire slightly damaged the roof of the store but no injury was recorded.
Former Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel has since been arrested over ongoing clashes in Laikipia.
He was later moved to the DCI Nairobi area for questioning and possible transfer to other places including Nakuru and Nanyuki.
On Monday, the National Security Council met and declared Laikipia a disturbed and a security operation area.
The council meeting came two days after an earlier one by the National Security Advisory Committee.
The National Security Advisory Committee on Saturday met to review the security situation and it was resolved that more security personnel will be sent to Laikipia to boost ongoing operations against bandits.
Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho said the government would change tack in its approach to insecurity in the county after various interventions deployed failed to restore peace.
Edited by N.Agutu