President William Ruto has ordered a joint security operation team to be formed to fight bandits.
The team according to the head of state will consist of the military and police.
Speaking in Nakuru State House on Monday, Ruto said the team will start its operation on Tuesday and will be deployed in all bandit-prone areas.
"The security operation team will have two duties, which is to flash out bandits and protect schools and communities in these areas," he said.
Ruto was speaking during a meeting with Baringo leaders.
He also emphasized that the government will deal firmly with illegal arms holders, especially in the North Rift.
"We will deal firmly with the drivers of illegal arms in the country. This is necessary and urgent, particularly in the North Rift. We must always endeavour to nurture peace for the transformation of our country," Ruto added.
On Saturday, leaders from the Rift Valley region called on Ruto to order the deployment of military officers to Kerio Valley and other banditry-prone parts of the country to restore normalcy.
The four counties of Baringo, Turkana and Elgeyo Marakwet counties have been worst hit by the insecurity due to unending banditry and cattle rustling.
This has left several people dead including police officers.
However, Ruto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring sanity in the banditry-prone regions of the country.
He said the government will use all the available resources to ensure no lives are lost to the bandits who have continued to terrorize parts of the country, especially the North Rift.
