NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14- President William Ruto has announced the relocation of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) training camp in Eldoret to Kerio Valley as part of a campaign to end banditry and cattle rustling in North Rift.
The President affirmed that his regime will tackle banditry that has affected the nation for four decades with no end in sight, as previous regimes have failed to restore peace in the region.
“These are the last kicks of a dying horse, we will deal with banditry in this region and the people of Kerio Valley will have peace. That’s the commitment of my administration and intend to fulfill it,” he said.
“The armed forces will not move away from the region until we have restored peace. We are building a big police camp here. Training Moi barracks will move to Kerio Valley,” President Ruto added.
The Head of State stated the purchase of modernized equipment will help the armed forces flush out bandits from insecurity-prone areas in Kerio Valley.
“The equipment will jet in next week and we will deal with insecurity firmly and conclusively. We are going to make sure we unite all the communities in North Kenya speak in one language of unity,” President Ruto stated.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale revealed plans to disarm bandits in the six counties which include Elgeyo Markwet,Samburu,Baringo which are affected by banditry as a measure to restore peace and sanity in the area.
“No pastoralist will be allowed to have guns if we find you don’t blame the security sector.As the National Security Council we have firm instructions by the President,” he said.
On Thursday, three members of a family, including a father, mother, and their three-year-old child, were attacked and killed by unknown assailants in Baringo North Sub-county.
The deceased were ambushed at Chemoe Junction, as they were heading to Kosile for a pass out of young boys who have been ushered to manhood in the area.
Three motorbike riders who survived an attack were taken to Baringo County Referral Hospital for treatment of severe injuries.
The bandits shot two other people in the Natan area within the Constituency. The police reported that the attackers appeared to be on a revenge mission and had already fled the area arrival of security personnel.
Cattle rustling in the Northern part of the country has been a menace that has affected the economic livelihoods of the residents, prompting the government through the Ministry of Interior to wage war to end the rogue activities.
Local leaders have asked the residents to champion community policing and work together with the national police and national police reservists, to identify and root out the bandits.
