President William Ruto has directed a joint Kenya Defence Forces and National Police Service operation to deal with bandits starting tomorrow Tuesday, February 14.
Speaking to Baringo leaders on Monday at the Nakuru State Lodge, President William Ruto announced a three-day amnesty for the surrender of firearms in the North Rift region.
In a statement after the meeting, Ruto stated that the government would deal firmly with bandits until peace is restored.
“We will deal firmly with the drivers of illegal arms in the country. This is necessary and urgent, particularly in the North Rift. We must always endeavor to nurture peace for the transformation of our country,” he said.
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Ruto’s order comes a day after he directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to relocate to the North Rift until the entire insecurity crisis is solved.
“CS Kindiki is not here today because he was in Baringo today. He was in Turkana yesterday. I have told him to leave his office in Nairobi to go and live in the North Rift until the banditry comes to an end,” said Ruto.
Four police officers on Friday, February 10 brutally lost their lives after a bandit attack on the Kitale - Lodwar highway at Kaakong area of Turkana County.
The attack also left seven police officers, including a sub-county Police Commander nursing injuries after being shot in a gunfight that lasted hours into the night.
Another attack on Thursday last week left three people dead after bandits posing as bystanders in Turkana South's Kakong area ambushed a Lodwar-bound Public Service Vehicle and sprayed it with bullets.
