A meeting of top security officials at State House on Wednesday settled on Deputy Inspector General- Administration Police Service Noor Gabow to be the new commander of the operation in North Rift.
This was partial because of his seniority, experience and the teams he leads in the service.
Officials aware of the talks said the military had complained about a lack of clear command on the ground and wanted a senior police officer to be sent there to lead the second phase of the exercise.
The military is embedded in the multi-agency operation that is being led by police.
It was then that President William Ruto was informed Gabow stands a better chance to lead the exercise given he has the experience and a higher rank.
“The President had also mentioned he saw a team of special forces jump on poles in Kanyonyoo and felt they can do better in North Rift,” an official said.
Moments after the meeting, Gabow was informed of the decision and he assembled his team before departing to the area.
Gabow, a hardened career police officer will lead a multi-agency team in the six counties that are increasingly becoming ungovernable over gun attacks.
He at the weekend met Kenya Army commander Lt Gen Peter Njiru and General Officer Western Command Maj Gen David Tarus as part of the planning.
He is being assisted by assistant Inspector General-Special Operations Group (SOG) Gilbert Masengele.
SOG are specialised hardened officers who managed to drive bandits out of Laikipia last year.
They are currently deployed to Lamu and other places along the Kenya-Somalia border.
Officials said they are being deployed to North Rift to aid in the hunt for bandits.
The meeting was chaired by President William Ruto and was attended by among others Chief of Defence Forces Gen Robert Kibochi and Inspector General of police Japhet Koome.
So far, about 150 assorted guns have been recovered from bandits in the region.
