Kindiki to unveil new measures to tame bandits next week

To counter the increased insecurity cases in Northern Kenya, the government is set to announce new security measures next week.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday revealed that the fight against livestock rustlers and violent bandits in Northern Kenya requires unyielding focus and determination.

"As a prelude to new security measures to be announced next week to address pockets of insecurity within the Northern Rangelands," he said.

The CS noted that Kenya's security agencies, local communities, and all interlocutors in the peace and security space must stay the course, and periodically amend the strategic and tactical interventions for the suppression of banditry.

Kindiki was speaking after holding a routine operational review with Samburu County Security agency heads and Operation Maliza Uhalifu field commanders of formed-up units along the Malaso Valley, at Maralal, Samburu County.

At the same time, the Interior boss stated that he had made change of personnel in Samburu to bring in fresh operational strengths, capabilities and skills.

"And we are also going to add new formations, security for missions in this area, especially to seal the roots and the gaps which these criminals are using," Kindiki stated.

Also, the CS said the ministry will  Gazette new areas that had not been gazetted in the past as they aim to also launch a fresh serious operation in the county.

"Therefore, once the legal instruments are in place, we will announce the new measures in the near future," Kindiki added.

Kindiki's statement came almost a year after the Kenya Kwanza government launched Operation Maliza Uhalifu to address the issue of banditry.

"A year after the Government deployed a permanent operation to defeat the decades-old organised crime against the people of Kenya, the time has come to change the operational interventions to seal the remaining gaps and secure the Kenya of the North," he emphasized.

Last year on February 13, the government flagged six bandit-prone counties in North Rift following an upsurge of banditry incidents in the region.

As a result, the CS  declared the counties of Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu as 'disturbed' and 'dangerous' saying "painful and decisive measures must be taken effective immediately".

That same day, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale gazetted the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces to support police in Operation Maliza Uhalifu in the six counties.

"Other than the recovery of stolen livestock, security officers must also apprehend and prosecute masterminds, financiers, and handlers of stolen livestock, Kindiki added.

In December, Kindiki said that come 2024,  the government will completely eradicate livestock theft.

Kindiki said 2023 was the year of flipping the war on livestock rustlers and bandits.

The CS noted that the government will commence an operation in parts of the Eastern Region as an extension to the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu in North Rift Valley Counties.

The CS said in the last 50 years, 14 Counties have been plagued with banditry and livestock rustling.

This, he said, has hampered development and economic growth.

"As promised by President William Ruto, the challenge of banditry will be eradicated by the Kenya Kwanza Administration," the CS said.

Kindiki said the government has mounted and upscaled a vicious war on bandits, livestock rustlers and other armed criminals in the North Rift Valley Region and parts of the Eastern Region in just a year.