Ruto: I’ve ordered CS Kindiki to leave Nairobi office, live in the North Rift until banditry ends

President William Ruto says Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has moved from his office in Nairobi to live in the North Rift region and fight banditry.

Ruto told faithful during a thanksgiving service in Nakuru County on Sunday that he had ordered Prof Kindiki out of the Harambee Avenue office, to the insecurity-stricken region where he is expected to restore security.

“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.

He said his government has extensively strategised on fighting banditry in the coming days, saying he will ensure no more life lost through bandit attacks.

“We have put in place all measures we can in our capacity as the government. We will deal with those few proud individuals and make sure no Kenyan loses their life to them,” said the Head of State.

Cattle rustlers and bandits have wreaked havoc in the country’s North Rift region, leading to the loss of hundreds of lives, displacement of residents, and loss of thousands of livestock.

Just two days ago, on Friday, six people, among them four police officers, lost their lives in a bandit attack on the Kitale - Lodwar highway at Kaakong area of Turkana County.

At the same time, seven officers, including a sub-county Police Commander, were hospitalised with gunshot wounds in the gunfight that lasted hours into the night.

The fierce gunfight was recorded by a passenger in a vehicle that was part of a convoy of vehicles escorted by police, and showed bandits numbering about 300 in the bush.

On Thursday, three people were killed and one critically injured in another attack at Kakong area in Turkana South, where bandits who posed as bystanders along the road ambushed a Lodwar-bound Public Service Vehicle, spraying it with bullets.

President Ruto’s comments follow Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya’s sentiments that the welfare of police officers deployed in the troubled region is devastating.

Natembeya, who also spoke during the thanksgiving service said a lot is being kept behind wraps regarding the conditions officers are subjected to and the matter has been totally ignored.

"I was the Regional Commander in Rift Valley and I really fought with insecurity. There are things you'll never be told Mr. President. During my 3-year tenure as the RC I did not receive even a single cent to fight insecurity," he said.

"These officers who we see are being shot dead, and none of them is being given allowance the salary they get is the same a traffic police officer receives. There is no incentive whatsoever," he added.