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The government has been urged to take urgent measures to avert an impending humanitarian crisis during the joint security operation in six counties.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) chair Roseline Odede urged the government to extend the 24-hour ultimatum to ensure all civilians are fully evacuated from the troubled areas before the security operations commences.

The Commission also said the security agencies should guarantee safety and security of all civilians in the identified areas and guarantee them a safe and orderly passage.

“KNCHR calls upon Interior Cabinet Secretary to allow humanitarian agencies including the Kenya Red Cross to assist such vulnerable civilians to move to safer grounds as well as provide any other humanitarian assistance,” said Odede in a statement yesterday.

The security operation will be undertaken in Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, West Pokot, Samburu and Laikipia.

Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki issued an order on March 12 that all law-abiding citizens vacate identified troubled areas within 24 hours failure to which they will be treated as criminal elements.

Affected communities

The Commission has however stated that owing to the pastoralism nature of affected communities and in view of the impending displacement, the National and County Governments should provide safe houses and spaces where the communities can temporarily relocate with access to basic commodities of water, food, adequate and reasonable sanitation.

They also want the National and County Governments to take appropriate measures and ensure there will be no child denied their right to education through a seamless provision of alternative education centers in the affected areas.

Special interest groups

Odede also said the healthcare services must be prioritized to the communities with specific priority and focus to the special interest groups as the elderly, persons with disabilities, children, the sick and maternal care to expectant women.

“The security operation teams should leverage on the existing local administration structures for purposes of sharing information with the public on disturbed areas, relocation arrangements for populations being displaced from disturbed areas, and emergency support services such as; access to relief assistance as well as guidance on the areas that warrant classification as disturbed areas,” Odede stated.

The civilians, who have been victims of banditry activities said the Chairperson, are struggling to move out of the disturbed areas with nowhere to go and the impact is mushrooming of over crowded makeshift camps and centers with no provisions for basic commodities.

Similarly, she said the relocation move has been particularly torturous for the vulnerable groups in these communities; specifically to the elderly, persons with disabilities, children, the sick and expectant women.

Ongoing drought

She said the Commission is concerned that coupled with the current harsh realities of the ongoing drought and considering that members of these displaced populations are predominantly pastoralists, moving away from areas they had pasture for their livestock has exacerbated the famine and hunger situation for them.

Similarly, she noted that schools in these areas have been closed indefinitely with the children having no recourse to their right to education.

“This situation on the ground following the March 12 order by the Government, if not urgently checked, will quickly degenerate into a humanitarian crisis. Thus, immediate mitigation actions and measures need to be taken by the Government as a matter of urgency and priority,” she stated.

Odede said the Commission is monitoring security operation pursuant to its constitutional obligation.