Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Monday declared parts of North Rift that have been affected by insecurity disturbed and dangerous.
This will pave way for the planned operations against the gunmen behind attacks hiding there.
The counties affected are Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu.
“Further, in the exercise of the powers conferred under Article 241 (3) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya, read together with section 8(1) of the Public Order Act (Cap 56, Laws of Kenya) and sections 1 and 106(1) of the National Police Service (NPS) Act (Cap 11A, 2011) - I have today February 13, 2023, declared through a Kenya Gazette Notice of even date, certain areas specified therein within Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and SamburuCounties as "disturbed " and "dangerous" areas triggering the legal consequences arising therefrom,” he said.
He said during the last six months, more than 100 civilians and 16 police officers have been brutally murdered by marauding bandits and livestock rustling terrorists in the Northern Rift Valley region of Kenya.
"The murderous gangs have in recent days escalated their terror on innocent Kenyans and law enforcement agencies and in the process burnt down schools, police vehicles and other social amenities," he said.
“During the attacks, hundreds of Kenyans have been displaced from their homes.”
Kindiki says the government has determined the security situation currently prevailing in the Northern Rift Valley region as a national emergency.
Accordingly, painful and decisive measures must be taken effective immediately, he said.
He ordered all persons across the country holding illegal firearms and or ammunition to surrender them immediately and unconditionally within three days from the date hereof failure to which the culprits will meet the full force of the law.
Earlier on, President William Ruto, Monday, ordered a joint security exercise between the National Police Service and the Kenya Defence Forces against banditry in the troubled North Rift region.
Ruto also announced a three-day voluntary disarmament exercise starting Tuesday.
This will allow for the surrender of guns with no repercussions.
The order comes a day after he ordered Kindiki to relocate to the North Rift until all attacks are addressed.
“CS Kindiki is not here today because he was in Baringo today. He was in Turkana yesterday. I have told him to leave his office in Nairobi to go and live in the North Rift until the banditry comes to an end,” Ruto said on Sunday.
He said his government has extensively strategised on fighting banditry in the coming days, saying he will ensure no more life lost through bandit attacks.
“We have put in place all measures we can in our capacity as the government. We will deal with those few proud individuals and make sure no Kenyan loses their life to them,” he said.
Cattle rustlers and bandits have wreaked havoc in the country’s North Rift region, leading to the loss of hundreds of lives, displacement of residents, and loss of thousands of livestock.
The most affected counties are Baringo, Turkana and Elgeyo Marakwet.
On Monday, Ruto said the government will deal firmly with illegal arms in the country.
He said special focus will be paid to North Rift where cattle rustling and banditry have become rampant. He said it is time the crime was stopped.
“We must move forward together as a country. This is possible when we confront a few elements causing insecurity in the country,” he said.
He made the remarks on Monday at the State House in Nakuru, when he met leaders from Baringo and Nakuru counties.
The President said leaders must endeavour to nurture peace for the transformation of the country.
He warned those behind cattle rustling to surrender or face the full force of the law.
