By K, KNA
Defense Principal Secretary (PS), Patrick Mariru, has said Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), will open-up security roads in the banditry prone parts of Laikipia County, to enhance responses to insecurity incidents.
While addressing local residents at Ng’arachi Primary School in Nyahururu Sub-county, where he schooled between 1985 and 1998, Mariru said opening of the roads is one of the programs being undertaken by KDF in counties with banditry history.
The PS was the Chief guest during the Mazingira Day celebration, where senior government officers went back to their former primary schools across the country. for tree planting exercise.
Mariro also noted that in addition to plating trees, KDF is also building schools in Laikipia. adding that in the past one week, 13 schools in the County have benefited with the trees planted by the security forces.
Nationally, the PS observed that the forces has so far planted 99 million trees, out of its 500 million target in the next ten years, under the 15 billion trees programme.
British Army that trains in Laikipia donated 400 seedlings, mostly fruits, to mark the Mazingira Day, which will be distributed to the local residents.
Commanding Officer In-Charge of the “Operation Maliza Uhalifu” Brigadier Alex Muraguri, a KDF team tasked with ending banditry in Laikipia and Baringo, said calm had been restored in the region with minimal incidents of insecurity being reported.
Laikipia County Commissioner, Onesmus Kyatha, echoed sentiment of Muraguri, saying that the region has experienced calm except pockets of illegal slaughtering of donkeys and isolated livestock thefts.
Governor Joshua Irungu, called upon the local residents to diversify their agricultural activities, by venturing into coffee and fruits growing.