Defense Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has assured residents in insecurity prone areas that the military is now ready to provide all the necessary support in the campaign to flush out bandits from their hideouts.
Speaking at Il Polei market, Laikipia County during a women empowerment programme, Ms. Tuya disclosed that the government has allocated Sh1 billion to be utilized in opening up road networks for easier accessibility by multiagency security personnel in tracking down the criminals involved in banditry and cattle rustling activities.
“The government has allocated Sh1 billion in the first phase to open up security roads. Bandits won’t have any hideout since the operation teams will be able to access all areas,” said Tuya.
She added that opening up of roads will cover all insecurity hotspots including Mukogodo Forest, adding that the effort is aimed to restore peace and foster development in the region.
Tuya was responding to concerns raised by Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere that it’s now over a month since a Kenya Defense Force (KDF) set up a temporary camp in Doldol Town, but security officers have yet to move into action.
“The President has issued very firm instructions that issues of insecurity and banditry under his watch will be a thing of the past. We assure you that all corners affected by insecurity will be addressed during the ongoing operations,” she said.
She assured that KDF, through the Maliza Uhalifu initiative, was on standby to support the National Police Service (NPS) during security operations in Laikipia County.
Korere noted that despite the presence of KDF officers, peace was yet to be realized and bandits were still having a field day, carrying out frequent attacks at will, acts that can be considered to be mockery of the government’s pledge of ending banditry and cattle rustling activities in northern Kenya and parts of the Rift Valley region.
“Our hearts are heavy; since KDF camped here last month until now, we are still being attacked by bandits. That’s an insult to the government,” the CS regretted.
Parts of Laikipia County, notably those neighbouring Mukogodo Forest, were this week gazetted as “disturbed areas” by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen alongside other regions in Isiolo and Meru counties.
Following the gazette notice, a multiagency security force supported by military officers and applying aerial surveillance is now set to launch a major operation to disarm the criminals and recover stolen livestock.
Dozens of people have been killed by criminals in recent years during raids to steal livestock, with leaders from affected areas accusing the government of giving lip service in regard to restoring security.
Leaders who accompanied the Defense CS, including her Tourism and Wildlife counterpart Rebecca Miano and four Laikipia MPs, rallied voters from Mt Kenya region to support President William Ruto’s second-term bid.
By Muturi Mwangi
