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President William Ruto has directed Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the Ministry of Education to rebuild schools destroyed by bandits in the North Rift region.

Speaking during a passing out parade of General Service Officer cadets at the military academy in Lanet, Nakuru County, the President said he was committed to ensuring that life returns to normalcy in the region.

The President said the dangerously misguided idea that people can acquire illegal arms and mobilise to commit criminal acts must stop.

He made the remarks on Friday in Lanet, Nakuru County, during the Officer Cadets Commissioning Parade at the Kenya Military Academy.

The President regretted that for many generations now, parts of the country has been held hostage by armed bandits.

“We will be ruthless in stamping out banditry. We will neutralise every bandit who defies the Government and attempts any criminal act,” he said.

Ruto on banditry

He insisted that every bandit will be held to account.

“Every illegal gun must surrendered willingly or by force; every child must go back to school.”

He lauded the Kenya Military Academy for employing a futuristic approach to training that has helped the Kenya Defence Forces to respond to complex and evolving security issues.

The President later toured the National Defence University — Kenya and inspected the ongoing construction of the proposed Lanet Regional Hospital in Lanet.