Nairobi, Kenya, Mar 16 – The Government has assured the public and all oversight agencies that the land and air operation to flush out bandits from the specified areas in parts of trouble North Rift will be conducted in accordance with the law.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Wednesday that the exercise will proceed in full compliance with the Constitution of Kenya, especially Chapter Five (5) on fundamental rights and freedoms of every individual.
“The Government assures the public that it will respect and uphold all applicable laws of Kenya and International treaties and conventions to which Kenya is a party as well as all principles of customary international law,” Kindiki said.
He went on to say that the State will promote national security and public safety without criminalizing innocent people or otherwise negating the doctrine of presumption of innocence.
Kindiki said that President William Ruto’s administration will ensure that no individual is displaced from their home or places of habitual residence without support to settle elsewhere and lead their daily lives normally.
In regards to education, the Interior CS said that the government will ensure that education programs in the areas that were Gazetted as ‘Disturbed’ and ‘Dangerous’ earlier last month are not disrupted during the joint security exercise.
He added that they will treat law-abiding members of the public with respect and dignity while fully upholding their rights under the Constitution and the Law.
Kindiki’s assurance comes a day after the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) called on the government to extend the 24-hour ultimatum issued to civilians in the troubled regions in the North Rift to for safe evacuation.
KNCHR made the appeal on Tuesday ahead of the expiry of a 24-hour ultimatum initially issued on Sunday but extended on Monday.
The ultimatum was issued as a multi-agency security team including the military planned to begin a second phase of a campaign against bandits in the North.
It was set to lapse on March 14 at 1930hrs.
KNCHR Chairperson Roseline Adede said there is an urgent need for the government to take extraordinary measures to avert what she described an impending humanitarian crisis as a result of the new order.
“The Commission notes that most of the areas identified and dubbed as ‘crime scenes’ are civilians habitual places of residence and the net effect of the vacate order will have far-reaching negative effects on a myriad of their human rights and fundamental freedoms as protected in our Constitution,” Adede said.
She noted that civilians who have been victims of banditry activities, are struggling to move out of the disturbed areas with nowhere to go.
