NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 29 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday met with the leadership of Baringo County as part of the wider efforts to restore security in the restive North region that suffered the brunt of banditry and cattle rustling.
The Ministry of Interior and National Administration (MINA) said that the meeting, led by Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi and Senator William Cheptumo, aimed at assessing the ongoing security operations in Baringo and identifying gaps.
The security campaign, which is also being conducted in five other bandit prone counties, involves the National Police Service (NPS) backed by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel.
The meeting, which also involved woman Representative Florence Jematiah, MPs Joseph Makilap (Baringo North), William Kamket (Tiaty), Musa Sirma (Eldama Ravine), Joshua Kandie (Baringo Central), Charles Kamuren (Baringo South), Reuben Kiborek (Mogotio) and Bishop Jackson Kosgey (Nominated) further sought to generate consensus on strategies to win the war against banditry and livestock rustling.
“To get long-term solutions to National Security threats, the Government is continuously engaging with various stakeholders and reviewing the interventions required to address historical, current and emerging security challenges from the grassroots, upwards to the National level,” Kindiki said following the meet at Harambee House in Nairobi.
In discussions with local leaders, CS Kindiki reiterated the government’s firm stance that security operations will not be politicized or ethnicized.
He emphasized that any individual, regardless of political affiliation, found to be instigating insecurity will face arrest and prosecution.
“Any political leader found culpable of financing, planning or inciting banditry, livestock rustling, or retaliatory attacks will be apprehended and arraigned, their political persuasions or influence notwithstanding,” he warned.
Furthermore, Kindiki announced plans to deploy additional specialized officers to pursue bandits, livestock rustlers, and other armed criminals in Baringo County and neighboring North Rift Valley Region counties affected by insecurity.
He also disclosed intentions to recruit and deploy more National Police Reservists (NPRs) to complement the ongoing efforts of the NPS and KDF under Operation Maliza Uhalifu.
“NPRs recruited will not be politicized and the NPRs will be managed by local police commanders,” he assured.
Despite the heavy presence of security agents in the region, Baringo County has witnessed a surge of attacks in recent weeks that have led to the loss of lives and injuries.
On February 25, a ward representative was gunned down by suspected bandits at Soit Pus on Maralal-Baragoi highway,
Authorities say the MCA was on his way home, when he was ambushed by gunmen.
His driver escaped unhurt following the incident, which sparked anger among the residents and local leaders.
The residents have called on the government to take decisive action to prevent further loss of life in the region.
