Leaders from Isiolo County have thrown weight behind the ongoing security operation in neighbouring Samburu County, urging the government to sustain the crackdown until armed banditry, livestock theft, and other forms of insecurity are brought under control.
The leaders, drawn from the Borana, Meru, Somali, and Turkana communities, said residents of Isiolo had for years borne the brunt of livestock raids and armed attacks, resulting in the loss of lives, livestock, and other property.
They said the security operation, which began last week, should not be suspended, arguing that stopping it prematurely could undermine efforts to recover illegal firearms and stolen animals and restore security along the Isiolo-Samburu border.
The leaders included Charri Ward MCA, Golicha Mejja, former Burat MCA Hassan Yarrow, and human rights activist Annab Kassim.
They were reacting to remarks by Samburu leaders, led by Governor Jonathan Lelelit, who have criticised aspects of the security operation and raised concerns over its impact on livestock and local communities.
Ms. Kassim urged the government to remain firm in the operation, saying sustained security measures were necessary to address the persistent attacks and livestock theft that have affected communities living along the border.
She cited a recent attack at Gotu, on the Isiolo side, in which five people were killed, among them two senior officers from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit. (ASTU).
“During the attack, the assailants reportedly made away with three rifles, ammunition, and grenades belonging to the slain officers,” she said.
The loss of the firearms has heightened concerns among local leaders, who said the weapons could be used to perpetrate further attacks if they were not recovered.
The leaders said the Gotu incident demonstrated the level of threat facing communities in the area and called for intensified efforts to track down the attackers and recover the weapons.
They also called for the recovery of stolen livestock, saying livestock theft had continued to fuel conflict between communities living in the region.
Mr. Golicha criticized claims by some Samburu leaders that security officers had killed hundreds of animals during the operation.
He argued that security officers were operating in difficult circumstances, claiming that some armed groups were using livestock as cover during confrontations with security personnel.
He said the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths of livestock should therefore be investigated alongside the broader security operation.
The leaders maintained that protecting civilians and their property should remain a priority but insisted that security agencies should not abandon the operation before addressing the threat posed by armed groups and illegal firearms.
They said the recovery of the three rifles, ammunition, and grenades taken during the Gotu attack should be among the key priorities of the security agencies.
The leaders further called for closer coordination between security agencies and communities on both sides of the county boundary to prevent further attacks and improve the flow of information on suspected criminals and stolen livestock.
They called on the government to ensure that the operation is conducted within the law and with due regard for the protection of civilians and their property.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the operation, which began last week, was intended to recover illegal firearms and stolen livestock, dismantle criminal networks, and create conditions for lasting peace in the region.
Mr. Murkomen said the government would continue with efforts to remove illegal weapons from the hands of criminals and disrupt networks involved in banditry and livestock theft.
At the same time, the CS called on security officers conducting the operation to exercise caution and ensure minimal damage to livestock and other property.
He said the security agencies must balance the need to deal firmly with criminals with the protection of civilians and their property.
Mr. Murkomen said more than 3,000 firearms and 8,000 rounds of ammunition had been recovered in the Kerio Valley and Northern Kenya regions through similar security operations over the past several years.
He said the recovery of the weapons was part of broader government efforts to reduce the availability of illegal firearms, which have been linked to recurring armed attacks and cattle raids in pastoralist areas.
He added that the operation covers areas inhabited by pastoralist communities, with security agencies seeking to recover illegal firearms, retrieve stolen livestock, and dismantle criminal networks blamed for insecurity.
By David Nduro
