- The government has intensified the fight against banditry and livestock theft in the country.
- In a bid to end banditry in Kenya, the government in February created a special squad to monitor and pursue bandits.
Image: DUALE/X
Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has warned Isiolo residents against banditry.
The CS said no one will be spared in the fight against banditry.
"You know what you did in Pokot last week," he said.
"I’m telling Isiolo people to stop stealing livestock or else you will be dealt with accordingly."
He spoke on Saturday in Isiolo during a thanksgiving event for Petroleum PS Mohammed Liban which was also graced by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua
The Defence boss said the Kenya Kwanza government will end banditry in Kenya.
“As the Kenya Kwanza we will end the culture of banditry under the leadership of our President William Ruto,” Duale said.
“The government will fulfil all its pledges and we are determined to end permanently, the shame of cattle rustling and banditry.”
Cattle rustling, ethnic politics and banditry are among the challenges facing North Eastern and Upper Eastern counties.
CS Duale vowed to deal with North Eastern challenges in the execution of his ministerial mandate.
He said he was determined to bring peace in the North Eastern counties which are facing different issues such as insecurity, banditry among others.
"After CS Kidniki and I are done with North Rift, our next stop will be in North Eastern," Duale said.
"This will be the administration that will kill clan conflict, and cattle rustling and we want our kids to learn without any worry."
The government has intensified the fight against banditry and livestock theft in the country.
Early this month, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki opened an anti-stock theft unit at Mulango in Isiolo.
He pledged that the government would establish more security camps, deploy specialised security officers and commission administrative units to bring services closer to the people.
Highlighting some strides, Kindiki said that significant ground has been covered in tracking and neutralising armed criminals who had turned parts of North Rift Valley, Upper Eastern and Coastal regions into their territory, killing men, women and children, and impoverishing them economically.
In the event of successful livestock theft, Kindiki said security agencies must recover all the stolen animals and arrest the persons involved in the theft and storage.
"So other than preventing livestock, we must recover. When we recover. We must also recover the suspects. And when it happens, we must be able to recover the livestock," Kindiki said.
"In addition, we must also produce the suspects who were found without livestock."