PS Omollo Reveals Gains Made in Fight Against North Rift Banditry

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has highlighted progress made in the government’s efforts to combat banditry and restore security in the North Rift through Operation Maliza Uhalifu and Operation Rudisha Bunduki.

Launched in February 2023, the security operations have resulted in the recovery of more than 2,600 illegal firearms and over 17,000 head of livestock.

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Omollo said the recovery of illegal weapons and stolen livestock formed part of a broader strategy aimed at addressing the underlying causes of insecurity, including criminal networks, competition over water and pasture, and longstanding disputes between neighbouring communities.

"This understanding has shaped the government’s response through Operation Maliza Uhalifu, launched in February 2023, and disarmament efforts under Operation Rudisha Bunduki. Together, the operations have recovered more than 2,600 illegal firearms and over 17,000 head of livestock," he said.

Omollo noted that livestock recovery was important to pastoralist households, where animals represented a major source of wealth, food, income and access to education for children.

He said the government needed to go beyond recovering stolen animals by pursuing individuals and networks responsible for financing and organising livestock theft, as well as those involved in the illegal trade.

"For pastoralist families, livestock represents years of investment, food, income and the means to educate children. Recovering stolen animals helps restore livelihoods, while removing illegal firearms reduces the weapons available to criminal groups. 

"Sustaining these gains requires pursuing livestock theft beyond the scene of an attack, holding financiers and organisers accountable and prosecuting those who knowingly trade in stolen animals," he added.

Despite the progress recorded, Omollo warned that some areas remained vulnerable to attacks, calling for continued vigilance and sustained security operations to prevent a resurgence of banditry.

He noted that disrupting raids and recovering stolen property would not guarantee lasting peace if criminal networks continued to profit from insecurity and disputes over natural resources remained unresolved.

"The persistence of banditry demonstrates the limitations of interventions that address violence without tackling the conditions that sustain it. 

"Raids may be disrupted, stolen livestock recovered and illegal firearms seized, but violence can return when criminal networks remain profitable, competition over water and pasture fuels tensions, and longstanding grievances go unresolved," he explained.

Omollo also emphasised the importance of involving local communities in security efforts, noting that residents possessed valuable knowledge about grazing routes, shared water points and disputes that could escalate into violence.

"Communities must remain central to this process. Residents understand grazing routes, shared water points and local disputes that can escalate into violence. Through Nyumba Kumi structures, National Government Administration Officers and security teams, they need reliable channels to report threats and receive timely responses," he further said.

Beyond security operations, Omollo said reconciliation, access to justice and support for families affected by violence were necessary to ensure communities recovered from years of insecurity.

He noted that families who had lost relatives, homes and livelihoods needed more than a return to calm, adding that neighbouring communities also required opportunities to resolve historical disputes and agree on fair arrangements for sharing water and pasture.

Omollo further identified economic opportunities for young people as an important part of preventing renewed violence, saying they needed meaningful ways to earn a living and contribute to their communities.

"For families who have lost relatives, homes and livelihoods, the return of calm is only the beginning of recovery. Reconciliation, access to justice and support for affected households must accompany security interventions. 

"Neighbouring communities also need opportunities to resolve longstanding grievances and establish fair arrangements for sharing water and pasture. Young people, in particular, need meaningful opportunities to earn a living and participate in shaping their communities’ future," he pointed out.

Omollo maintained that the success of the government's security interventions would ultimately depend on whether residents experienced meaningful improvements in their quality of life and whether future generations could grow up in safer communities.

"The true measure of success will be found not merely in the number of firearms recovered or roads constructed, but in the lives people are finally able to lead and in a generation that inherits the promise of these regions rather than the insecurity that has held them back," he noted.

Notably, earlier in the year, Omollo urged churches to work closely with the government to help preserve peace and reinforce positive community values.

Speaking during a service at Mogotio Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church on Sunday, January 24, he said government operations against banditry and livestock theft in the Kerio Valley and the wider Rift Valley were yielding positive results. 

Omollo appealed to residents, elders and faith leaders to help maintain the gains through peace advocacy, responsible citizenship and cooperation with local security agencies.

"Let us promote peace and responsible citizenship by working with our local administrators, Nyumba Kumi structures, village elders and security agencies," he said, adding that the calm currently being experienced across the region must be safeguarded through unity and sustained community vigilance.

Omollo warned criminals and individuals masquerading as business people who lure young people into drug abuse and other harmful activities that the government would act firmly against them and their networks.

"As a Ministry, we have marching orders from the President. We will not negotiate with unscrupulous individuals who seek to profit from destroying our children," he added.