Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has directed security agencies in the bandit hit regions to arrest politicians and religious leaders who are enabling the vice countrywide.
Kindiki’s directive also extends to key planners and commanders of the bandit attacks.
“Security agencies are instructed to crackdown on all political, commercial and spiritual enablers of banditry as well as key planners and commanders of bandit attacks,” CS Kindiki said on Wednesday.
Kindiki spoke a day after a section of leaders among them Tiaty MP William Kamket and his counterparts Peter Lochakapong of Sigori and Kapenguria MP Julius Murgor were summoned to the Rift Valley Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over allegations of incitement in the region.
The North Rift region lawmakers through their lawyer called on the National Security Council to hold joint meetings to seek an amicable solution to troubles facing the region.
The CS spoke after meeting with Regional and County security bosses at the Chief’s Office, Kisima Location, in Suguta Marmar, Samburu West Constituency to review the progress of the operational plans.
Since the inception of Operation Maliza Uhalifu eight months ago, CS Kindiki noted the successes and challenges of the operation to eradicate banditry.
“Eight months after deployment of Operation Maliza Uhalifu forces, the Government is continuously engaged in monitoring the successes and challenges of the operation, so as to address any gaps for a sustained program for eradicating the terror of armed livestock robbers who have caused loss of lives and property of innocent Kenyans for decades,” CS Kindiki noted.
Kindiki assured of the government’s commitment to sustaining the Maliza Uhalifu Operation for the total eradication of banditry and livestock rustling in Northern Kenya.
“Security agencies have made significant strides towards suppression of violent banditry in the North Rift Valley Region,” he said.
