The incoming commander of the Kenya Army has pledged his full support in eradicating insecurity in the North Rift region.
Commander Kenya Army, Lieutenant General David Tarus, and his predecessor, Peter Njiru visited troops under ‘Operation Maliza Uhalifu, which have been working to mitigate the insecurity posed by the bandits in Laikipia county.
The duo visited several Forward Operating Bases in Chesitet, Kolowa, Mukutani in Baringo County, and Ngoisusu to motivate the team.
During his speech, on Wednesday Tarus pledged full support to the troops in achieving the objectives of ‘Operation Maliza Uhalifu’ to restore normalcy in the North Rift region.
He emphasised the significance of teamwork as a force and underscored the necessity for unity in working towards common goals and objectives.
"We should ensure safety in equipment handling, particularly in areas such as weapon handling and transportation, tfor the well-being of all personnel involved in the operations," Tarus said.
The outgoing commander also expressed his appreciation for the efforts and the efficiency the team has shown.
"I deeply appreciate the troops’ act of professionalism in multi-agency setup and dedication to maintaining operational readiness," Njiru said.
Njiru took the opportunity to also commend the troops for their unwavering support during his tenure.
"I acknowledge your significant contributions to various operations and encourage you to extend the same level of support to the incoming Commander," Njiru said.
He expressed confidence in the new Commander’s capabilities, noting his impressive skills and experience, and believes that under his leadership, the troops would achieve even greater success.
Despite the successes, Njiru acknowledged the challenges in logistical support for operations.
"I reassure you that these challenges are being addressed progressively. I have confidence that the incoming commander will continue these efforts to ensure the smooth continuation of operations," Njiru added.
Njiru also assured the troops that the incoming commander will keep the fire burning.
Operation Maliza Uhalifu was launched in February 2023, following continuous violent activity by bandits in North Rift.
The operation is led by police forces and supported by the military in a multi-agency security team that also consists of National Police Reserve forces – volunteers operating as supplementary forces within their communities.
The security team has played a vital role in reducing violence in the region by confiscating illegal weapons, recovering stolen livestock, as well as tracking and neutralising armed pastoralist militias.
