We will crash criminal elements in troubled North Rift

NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 12 – President William Ruto says the government is set for a decisive win in the campaign against criminals.

While describing isolated cases as ‘kicks of a dying horse,’ the head of state promised tough action on insecurity especially in the troubled North Rift region.

He announced govt plans to invest Sh25 billion aimed at outsourcing modernized weapons for security forces in a strategy he says will curtail increasing cases of criminal attacks.

“I have enough equipment now these criminals will now face it. We will deal with them ruthlessly….We will increase National Police Reserve police and our plan is to ensure insecure places have reinforced security,” the President said in Laikipia County.

The President emphasized on restoring security in banditry-prone counties which include Samburu, Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, and Baringo counties as the battle to reclaim peace in the region has remained elusive.

“I have given firm instructions on this Northern Part of Kenya to ensure we deal with bandits. These cases you are hearing are just kicks of a dying horse. We are going to secure our country,” said President Ruto.

This coming a day after incessant banditry attacks were reported in Laikipia with residents appealing to the government to heighten security by deploying National Police Reservists.

Residents have decried that insufficient security officers in the region has paved way for bandits to raid villages with impunity.

Bandits are said to have been emboldened to the extent of robbing the local administrators at gunpoint with a recent incident where they stole the area chief’s cattle.

 The decades-old security situation in the region is complex characterized by banditry, cattle rustling, and local conflicts.

The availability of weapons is a key driver of insecurity, but many North Rift citizens fear that disarming both residents and raiders will leave them vulnerable to attacks.

The government has put in place several interventions to curb banditry in the Northern Rift region.

 In 2022 and 2023, the government imposed curfews in banditry-prone counties, including Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Samburu and Baringo and declared these areas as disturbed and dangerous areas.

The government deployed heavy security personnel in 2017, 2022 and more recently in 2023.

Further, the need to establish permanent presence of security services in banditry prone areas led the government to establish military and security training camps across vast areas of ASALs. 

About The Author