•The CS urged the officers not to spare anyone including politicians in the fight against banditry.
•Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs in bandit-prone areas have been warned against protecting the criminals.
Image: MINA
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has announced a new method of aid in ending banditry.
On Thursday, the CS said that the government will soon place bounties on bandits commanders.
"We are going to place a value on the heads of commanders of banditry and any citizen or security officer who helps apprehend these criminals will be rewarded," Kindiki said.
He was speaking when he held a strategic, review and forward planning engagement with security teams from Rift Valley and Eastern Regions, and Formation Field Commanders at Archer's Post in Samburu County.
Going further, Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs in bandit-prone areas have been warned against protecting the criminals.
The Interior boss stated it won't be business as usual come 2024.
"Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs know where these rustlers come from, their homes, and where they keep the stolen animals. A Government officer can't continue receiving a salary yet in their jurisdiction, acts of cattle rustling continue unabated," he announced
"Such officers will be relieved of their duties and I can assure you that in 2024, such officers will have to give way," Kindiki added.
Addressing the security officers, the CS urged them to use weapons to protect themselves and civilians from armed criminals.
Kindiki told the officers not to allow an armed criminal to put them down.
"Deal with them ruthlessly and know that the Government will protect and defend you. What we will not do is defend any officer who misuses their firearms, he emphasised.
In addition, Kindiki urged the security officers not to be tricked by politicians who politick about banditry.
"Don't be deterred by any politician, regardless of their popularity or influence. We have decided that there will be no way or avenue for playing politics with security operations," he said.
The CS urged the officers not to spare anyone including politicians in the fight against banditry.
"We must refuse the unhealthy relationship between politics and security operations. If any political leader is aiding, comprising or abetting activities that hamper national security, they must be dealt with ruthlessly and under the law," Kindiki said.
He insisted that security officers must reject any operational commands or instructions from political leaders.
In the same venue, Kindiki announced that Operation Maliza Uhalifu will be extended to parts of Meru, Isiolo and Marsabit counties.
This move is aimed at effectively degrading bandit networks, under the operation that begun on February 14, 2023.
"New areas in the Northern Grazing Area in Meru North, parts of Isiolo and Marsabit and banditry hotspots in Samburu will shortly come under curfew and emergency measures to facilitate the flushing out of bandits and recovery of stolen livestock," Kindiki said.
The CS stated that additional areas will be gazetted as 'Disturbed and Dangerous' as the operation assumes its third phase.
"We must finish this job. Killing of civilians and security officers, and theft of livestock has been happening in Isiolo, Marsabit and Meru North," Kindiki said.
He vowed not relent until this problem of cattle rustling is completely eradicated.
"Into 2024, government remains glued to the vision of defeating banditry, destroying its evil infrastructure and building resilience of affected communities and mainstreaming them into national development," he said.