Despite an ongoing multi-agency security operation to stop such incidences, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki has stepped up to explain why bandit activity is still recorded in the North Rift region.
Speaking to lawmakers on Wednesday, Kindiki said that while security personnel had successfully driven out many bandits from their lairs, a select few had managed to conceal their whereabouts by blending in with people.
"We have been able to dominate the permanent abodes where the suspected bandits were hiding whenever they steal livestock, but when we issued out the vacation notice to residents, some of these criminals could have mixed with the population," said the CS, according to the cs Security personnel can't be everywhere and watch over every homestead, so the bandits make irregular raids, occasionally succeeding. Still, they have averted and repelled attacks, and they have even recovered animals every day,
The Interior CS also stated that the State has plans to boost the number of security personnel deployed in the North Rift and that their deployment will continue after the conclusion of the current security operation.
Did you read this?
Kindiki claimed that because they have already carried out an operation, security officers will stay put whenever they are called upon for as long as Kenya exists. The officers were called back from the area once there was a fraction of calm.
He added that they are up-scaling the number of security agents and doubling them and that the deployment this time will be a long-term one.
In support of the assertion above, Kindiki disclosed that his ministry had approved 200 more police reservists who will start working in Baringo County after completing the necessary training.
According to Kindiki, 100 police reserve members will work in Baringo North, and the remaining members will work in Baringo South. While security agencies cannot be present in every farmstead, reservists can significantly reduce assault risk. Thus training will begin before Friday.
