Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has announced that the six counties in North Rift gazetted as dangerous and disturbed in February remain so as Operation Maliza Uhalifu continues.
Speaking in Baringo County on Friday, the CS said the government will not profile or criminalise any community in the fight against banditry and livestock theft.
"The multi-agency security officers will target individual criminals. Security officers must work with law-abiding citizens to identify the few criminal elements who terrorise innocent residents, impoverish them economically, and taint the image of an entire community," he said.
The government on February 13 flagged six bandit-prone counties in North Rift following an upsurge of banditry incidents in the region.
In a press statement, Kindiki said over a span of six months, over 100 civilians and 16 police officers had been brutally murdered by marauding bandits who would then retreat and hide in caves in treacherous areas and mountains.
As a result, he 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 said.
He spoke when he inaugurated the Akwichatis General Service Unit (GSU) Camp in Silale Ward, Tiaty Constituency, Baringo County.
GSU Commandant Eliud Lagat, Tiaty MP William Kamket, National Government and Baringo County Government officials were in attendance.
