Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has earned accolades from civil society groups in the North Rift region for his efforts to wipe out banditry in the region and other security challenges countrywide.
Representatives of the civil society groups led by Kipkorir Ngetich said Kindiki had exhibited rare commitment to his work leading from the front in the fight against banditry in the Kerio Valley region.
“For the first time, we have a CS who is hands-on and means what he says,” Ngetich said.
"He said he would camp in Kerio Valley to help fight banditry and we have never had any other security minister who has been to the region more than him.”
Ngetich who heads the Center for Human Rights and Democracy said civil society groups operating in the North Rift had recorded a massive decline in cases of banditry attacks in West Pokot, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana and Samburu among others.
His sentiments were backed by human rights activists Kibet Maswai and Pauline Suter.
They want the CS to keep up with the fight against banditry and other insecurity challenges across the country.
Ngetich termed as true the pollster ratings which ranked Kindiki as the best performing CS in the Kenya Kwanza government.
He said the CS had also performed well in dealing with banditry attacks and urged Kenyans to give him the support he needs in transforming security agencies so that they are well-catered for and equipped to perform their duties effectively.
Kindiki has been praised for working to improve the terms and conditions of service for security officers to motivate them.
“We have seen Kindiki go to the extent of meeting security officers deployed in the region so that he can understand the challenges they face and give them the support they need to succeed,” Ngetich said.
Governors from the region led by Wesley Rotich of Elgeyo Marakwet have also praised Kindiki for his unwavering commitment to ensuring residents of the region enjoy peace after many years of frequent and deadly banditry attacks.
