The government on Tuesday, October 12 issued orders that non-locals who are within Laikipia’s County security operation zone to leave immediately.

In a statement issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, he said that the move is aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region is restored.

“An immediate enhancement of the ongoing security operation will be undertaken in the affected area,” he said, adding that special forces and equipment will be deployed under the heightened command will be deployed to the operation,” he stated.

“The government notes with grave concern that despite its efforts to enforce peace and stability in Laikipia, hardcore bandits continue to take advantage of the prevailing drought situation in neighbouring counties to commit criminal incursions,” the CS added.

Matiang’i said that due to the security instability a number of lives have been lost and many others injured in attacks that have also occasioned the destruction of private property and loss of livestock.

He noted that despite the government working round the clock to ensure that they restore security in the region, still, the area was witnessing a section of hardcore criminals who were working against the efforts to bring peace in Laikipia.

The Ministry is not going to tolerate such moves and officers are going to be extremely ruthless to anyone who threatens the normal livelihood of the people in Laikipia.

CS Matiang’i said that a special command team had been deployed in the area to deal with non-locals and also monitor the movements of people in the vast county.

The move comes just a day after armed bandits from the neighbouring Pokot county killed three people in the area despite having a huge number of security officers.