Kindiki Kithure, the interior cabinet secretary, has now referred to livestock rustlers as terrorists.

Kindiki reaffirmed the need to eradicate the practice while speaking to the Senate Committee on National Cohesion and Integration.

PHOTO | COURTESY Interior CS Kindikik kithure says the North Rift rustlers should now be treated as terrorists and not bandits

"Terrorism has replaced livestock rustling. Politicians are playing this game, he said.

He claimed that security personnel would permanently be stationed in war-torn Northern Kenya to maintain economic growth in the area.

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President William Ruto's administration, according to the CS, would end banditry in the vulnerable areas.

Even though the amnesty period is over, the interior secretary told senators that the disarmament has yet to start.

Kindiki pledged to remove all guns ruthlessly.

"I am conscious that engaging in this activity may alienate some lawmakers. It's going to be awful. He declared that I had the President's backing to deal harshly with leaders in both his party and the opposition.

He was adamant about not doing it. Allow politics to influence his efforts to stop cattle rustling.

"I won't get involved in Kenya Kwanza's or the opposition's politics. I remain clear of politics, as you have seen," he said.

PHOTO | COURTESY Kindiki says rustlers are terrorists not bandits anymore

"President Ruto has assured me he is ready to lose political support to solve this issue. We shall deal with banditry because our nation's survival is at stake.

He revealed that the continuing security operation in some areas of the Rift Valley has seen the government make significant "progress."

On Wednesday before the Senate's National Cohesion committee, Kindiki said that the government had used all its best equipment and personnel to combat the problem.

"We have advanced significantly. Also, we are not rushing. We might stay there for several months "said Kindiki.

According to the CS, security deployment would be a constant in the area even though the government is working to end the gunfire and restore safety and security.

The CS stated that to focus and adequately deploy security personnel, they would soon revise the notification to include more areas to the list of disturbed areas.

At Isiolo and Marsabit, where insecurity is "homegrown," he claimed that his Ministry also thinks of conducting special operations.