• Earlier this year, Kindiki said his priority in 2024 would be the safety and security of Kenyans.
• Speaking in Kirinyaga on Friday, the CS said that he will be very ruthless with the war against illicit brew.
Image: MINA
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has ranked the illicit brew menace with bandits and terrorists.
Speaking in Kirinyaga on Friday, the CS said that he will be very ruthless with the war against illicit brew.
"We are going to treat it (illicit brew menace) the way we have treated the problem of terrorism and banditry by having a continuous permanent operation until this problem is gone," Kindiki said.
He also ordered a nationwide crackdown on all village bars across the country in response to the tragic deaths of over 13 individuals in Kirinyaga who died after consuming illicit brew.
Kindiki explained that the nationwide operation is going to be active for as long as the illicit brew problem exists.
"I want the country to know that unlike in the past when we have had incidents like this and then the government comes in and announces an operation for three months for two months for six months.
"We are not going to withdraw or scale it down. So we don't expect short fixes. It's not a two-month operation, six months, one year, or two years. We are going to stay on this operation as long as the problem exists," Kindiki added
Earlier this year, Kindiki said his priority in 2024 would be the safety and security of Kenyans.
On his reflection of the 2023 events as far as insecurity is concerned, the CS noted acknowledged that insecurity was generally a difficult problem globally.
“Terrorism, banditry, narcotics, corruption, violence, cyber-attacks and climate change lingered as the most consequential threats to our Homeland Security. In our assessment, they will remain so into 2024,” Kindiki said.
In a bid to end the bandit war, Kindiki on Thursday announced the recruitment and training of National Police Reservists starting next month to complement the efforts of multi-agency security personnel in countering terrorism financiers and orchestrators.
In a comprehensive effort to address evolving security threats, the government has unveiled a robust 5-year security equipment modernisation plan estimated at Sh37 billion.
Detailing the acquisition process, CS Kindiki disclosed an expenditure of approximately Sh7 billion over the past year for the procurement of security equipment to empower personnel in handling emerging threats effectively.
"The second consignment, featuring drones and other modern surveillance equipment, is scheduled to arrive in the country within the next two months, while the third consignment, including gunship helicopters and other aerial mobility equipment, is expected within a year," he said.