CS Kindiki at pains to explain why bandits still active in North Rift, set to double police presence

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki has come out to explain why cases of banditry attacks are still being reported in the North Rift region despite an ongoing multi-agency security operation to quell such incidents in the zone.

Speaking when he appeared before Parliament on Wednesday, Kindiki told MPs that despite security agents managing to drive out numerous bandits from their hideouts, a small number have been able to hide in plain sight by masking their presence amongst civilians.

"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 in reference to a decree he issued on March 13 ordering residents in parts of the North Rift to vacate the region to allow the government room to weed out bandits.

"Because security forces cannot be everywhere and guard every homestead they (bandits) are making sporadic raids, sometimes successful but we have prevented and thwarted attacks and even recovered livestock on a daily basis."

The Interior CS added that the State has since made plans to increase the number of security personnel deployed in the North Rift, while adding that their placement will not cease with the end of the ongoing security operation.

"Whenever they will be called on the security agents will remain there for as long as Kenya exists to ensure that this problem does not occur because previously we have done an operation and as soon as there is some semblance of tranquillity we recall the security agencies," said Kindiki.

“We are up-scaling the numbers of security agents we have. We are doubling them, and as I have announced, this deployment will not cease with the end of the operation.”

As a testament to his aforesaid statement, Kindiki revealed that his ministry has since approved an additional 200 police reservists who will begin operations in Baringo County after receiving appropriate training.

"100 of these will be for Baring North while the remaining will be for Baringo South. Training is going to start before Friday because we believe the security agencies cannot be in every homestead but reservists can help mitigate attacks in a big way," he said.

"I have provided money for their training immediately. We will not be asking stakeholders to help us; we will do it ourselves."