- Ruto said apart from ensuring there is stability in the restive region, the officers will also take part in community projects.
- Already, he said, Sh100 billion have been allocated towards the construction of new schools and renovation of the old ones.
Image: HANDOUT
President William Ruto has said the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will be stationed in the banditry-prone North Rift areas permanently.
Ruto said apart from ensuring there is stability in the restive region, the officers will also take part in community projects.
Already, he said, Sh100 billion have been allocated towards the construction of new schools and renovation of the old ones.
"Wale wanajeshi wako hapa hakuna mahali wanaenda, tuanze kuzoeana na wao," Ruto told the residents of West Pokot adding he has directed that military camps be built in all the areas.
(The soldiers who are here will camp here permanently so let us get used to them)
He made the remarks on Sunday during a church service at Makutano.
He said they have prioritised the rebuilding of 20 schools destroyed by bandits in the county and ensuring they have boarding facilities so that children can resume learning.
A feeding programme funded by the government, he added, will be introduced to keep the learners in school and lessen the burden parents in the area have had.
The head of state further announced the construction of comprehensive schools in the region.
Defending the idea of stationing the KDF, Ruto said previous measures have proven unworkable in ending the cattle rustling and banditry in the areas.
He said the presence of military camps was the only surest way to stem the perennial conflicts witnessed in the areas.
"Kama ulikuwa unapanga ya kwamba wakitoka uanze ile maneno, sasa utafute kazi ingine...Hakuna mahali kujificha tena, tufanye ile kazi halali," said Ruto.
(If you were planning to revert to illegal business, think of something else to do, there's nowhere to hide anymore)
The soldiers, he added, will also drill dams and boreholes for irrigation adding the government will also acquire graders for them to open up roads in the areas.
On February 13, the government through a gazette notice by Defence CS Aden Duale ordered the deployment of the military to six North Rift counties in a bid to stem the runaway insecurity.
Interior CS Kindiki Kithure declared Turkana, Elgeiyo Marakwet, Samburu, Baringo, Pokot and Laikipia as disturbed and dangerous.
When he appeared in the Senate last Wednesday, Kindiki stated that security forces have reclaimed gorges and other caves where the bandits had turned them into their homes.
"All these places, the caves, gorges and ravines, all others that were being used as hideouts for bandits have been cleared and dominated by security forces," he said.