MPs from banditry-prone areas in the Rift Valley region have faulted the government's approach to taming the vice saying it will not succeed as is it outdated.
Speaking when they appeared before the National Assembly Committee of Cohesion, the MPs said the resurgence of banditry and cattle rustling cases despite the government's investment in taming the vice was an indication that the tact being used was not working.
They said arresting and summoning elected leaders to record statements over the banditry attacks was not working.
They also lamented that they are not being involved in meetings and tours by senior security to affected areas.
"The government has decided to work on its own in the fight against banditry and cattle rustling. They are not involving leaders and the local community who understand the region better," Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee said.
Committee chair Yussuf Haji said he called for an engagement with MPs from banditry-prone regions to discuss ways of ending the menace because they were key stakeholders.
The 20 MPs who attended the meeting were from Laikipia, Samburu, West Pokot, Baringo, Turkana and West Pokot counties.
"The Committee is concerned that despite the government investing heavily in strategies aimed at combating banditry and cattle rustling the menace is still rampant," Haji said.
He added that criminal activities were a threat to cohesion and peaceful existence among the communities in the region hence the need for leaders from the area to discuss how to deal with the matter.
But the MPs poured their frustration to the Committee on how the government was handling its campaign to make the region a banditry-free area.
The MPs told the Committee said many people have lost their lives in the hands of the bandits despite the heavy presence of security apparatus in the region.
"We have buried an elected Member of the County Assembly who was killed by the bandits," Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda said.
She pointed out that schools in the area have closed because of cases of insecurity.
The Samburu West MP pointed out that scores of others have been left with life-threatening injuries as she questioned the government's seriousness in fighting insecurity in the region.
Samburu North MP Letipita Eli told the committee that 2,500 people have been displaced following unending attacks by bandits.
