- “I want to give you my commitment, it doesn’t matter the maneuvers that the bandits apply and how persistent the problem looks," he said.
- The CS said the government is onboarding the input of all stakeholders to eradicate the livestock rustling menace.
Image: MINA
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has said he will eradicate banditry during his tenure.
He said the problem of banditry has been prevalent in Meru North and 15 other counties.
“We have a problem of banditry, livestock rustling in Meru North and 15 other counties where bandits have terrorised the people for many years,” he said.
“I want to give you my commitment, it doesn’t matter the manoeuvres the bandits apply and how persistent the problem looks," Kindiki said.
He spoke on Thursday during a consultative forum with Meru County elected leaders on eradicating livestock rustling menace in the county.
"I want you to know that in the tenure of this administration, this first term and in my tenure as the Interior minister of Kenya, we will stamp out the problem of banditry,” he said.
The CS said the government is onboarding the input of all stakeholders to eradicate the livestock rustling menace.
He said the consultative meeting was meant to avail Meru County elected leaders an opportunity to share their proposals in addressing the challenge.
Kindiki said he took the opportunity to update the leaders on the nationwide operation announced by government Wednesday on how to combat the manufacture, trade, consumption and abuse of illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
"I called on the leaders to cooperate with security agencies to crackdown on merchants of death who threaten the future of our nation through the manufacture and sale of poisonous alcoholic drinks and toxic drugs," he said.
On December 15, 2023, Kindiki said the government would eradicate livestock theft this year.
The CS said in the last 50 years, 14 counties had been troubled by banditry and livestock rustling.
"As promised by President William Ruto, the challenge of banditry will be eradicated by the Kenya Kwanza administration," the CS said.
He 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.
He said the move has resulted in a 70 per cent reduction in cases of livestock theft.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kindiki said the ministry was adding more personnel to address banditry in the North and Eastern region.
He said for the State to ruthlessly pursue livestock rustlers, they are deploying the same measures which were deployed to tackle terrorism.
"We are bringing in special forces to help us deal with the hardcore commanders of banditry," he said.
Speaking on milestones achieved, the CS noted that the increased number of bandit commanders who have been neutralised or arrested was a confirmation that Operation Maliza Uhalifu is a success.
Kindiki added that President Ruto has given clear and firm instructions to deal with the shame of banditry and livestock rustling in the country.