• The operation is being conducted in six counties of Samburu, Turkana, Baringo, Laikipia, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet.
• Over 135 Kenyans, including 20 security officers, have perished in the hands of bandits over the last seven months in the mentioned counties.
Image: NPS
Deputy Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow is the new Commander of the ongoing security operation in six bandit-prone counties of the North Rift.
The National Police Service made the announcement on Monday as plans got underway for air and ground assault against bandits.
"The new Commander of Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift is Mr. Noor Gabow, who is also the Deputy Inspector General," NPS said.
"Mr Gabow met with the Commander Kenya Army Lieutenant General Peter Mbogo Njiru at Chemolingot Multi-Agency Command Centre on March 11, 2023, as part of their strategic security engagement," the Police Service added.
The Kenya Defence Forces are supporting the National Police Service in the Operation to restore peace and normalcy in the North Rift following rampant banditry attacks.
The operation is being conducted in six counties of Samburu, Turkana, Baringo, Laikipia, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet.
Over 135 Kenyans, including 20 security officers, have perished in the hands of bandits over the last seven months in the mentioned counties.
The government has as a result enhanced the security operation to flush out suspected bandits who Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said on Sunday are hiding in caves, gorges and escapements in rugged terrains.
The CS ordered residents in the target areas to vacate by Monday at 7.30 pm or be treated as banditry suspects.
He said intelligence reports established that bandits are using residents as human shields as they continue advancing their criminal activities and spying on security personnel.
"We have found a way around the bad terrain. Therefore, security officers will now onwards be taking the war to the bandits. We shall venture and extract them from any forest, cave, gorge, ravine or escarpment," Kindiki said.
The CS on Monday reviewed the areas where residents ought to have vacated by Monday and excluded Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lobokat, Lokoron, the Turkwell Escarpment and Ombollion areas within Turkana and West Pokot.
He issued a new directive and listed Ng’elecha Hills and Gorges, Ramacha and Losokoni Caves, Laramoru Gorges, Karau Hills, Noosidan Escarpment, Rugus Caves and the Amaya Gorges at the interface of Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu Counties as areas where residents should vacate within 24 hours.
"The above-specified areas are specified scenes of crime," Kindiki said and banned aircraft from overflying the areas.
He said residents have up to Tuesday at 7.30 pm to vacate or face the full force of the security operation.
"Any member of the public found in the spaces specified in this paragraph after Tuesday 14th March 2023, 1930 hours will be treated as a suspect of an armed bandit, or as a suspect of aiding and abetting banditry, or an accessory after the fact," he said.