Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki yesterday warned leaders who support bandits and benefit from the vice that  they will face the full force of the law.

He said the government had enhanced multi-agency security operations to secure volatile areas, particularly in the North Rift region.

While elaborating on the security plans to clear bandits from parts of Rift Valley and open up the region for development, Kindiki said that the team had been equipped with all forms of security machinery, including sophisticated weapons to combat the bandits who have terrorized the region for decades.

When he appeared before the Senate’s National Cohesion Committee chaired by Mohammed Chute (Marsabit) yesterday, Kindiki exuded confidence of winning the war against the bandits.

“We will deploy more troops and set up a permanent security installation to protect the place. I have the support of the President to ensure his administration delivers the country from this shame. I want to assure you that this administration will end banditry in Kenya,” said Kindiki.

The Interior CS fired a warning shot at politicians who could be benefiting or facilitating the bandits to perpetuate the atrocities.

“It is going to be brutal with some of these politicians who are benefitting from banditry. I am ready to fall out with some of them,” declared Kindiki.

The CS also revealed plans to make radical changes to the country’s security laws to deal with the bandits.

He said his Ministry will change the law to classify bandits as terrorists so that the government can deploy all its machinery to combat the menace.

Permanent deployment

Kindiki further disclosed that the government had set aside Sh20 billion to procure modern equipment and protective devices for security officers carrying out operations in the North Rift and other parts of the country.

Already, he said, the Interior Ministry is engaging several stakeholders, including political leaders from the affected areas in search for a lasting solution to the problem.

Leaders from the affected regions have claimed that bandits flee to the neighbouring countries whenever the government mounts an operation to flush them out.

Kindiki said security officers will not be withdrawn even after the current operation as part of the government’s strategy to permanently secure the areas from bandits.

“The future economy of this country will be sustained by first stabilizing the North Rift areas that are currently not habitable. The deployment is going to be permanent,” he declared.

Last month, Kindiki declared Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu counties as “disturbed and dangerous” following a wave of banditry attacks that left several people, including security officers, dead and many more injured.

The declaration triggered massive security operations with President William Ruto ordering deployment of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers and other security agencies in the region.

Yesterday, Kindiki told Senators that since the operation started, some 43 illegal firearms, 136 rounds of ammunition two fragmented rifle grenades and three rocket propelled grenades had been surrendered to the government.

“We will mop out all illegal guns in the North Rift and other parts of the country and don’t ask me how. Painful and decisive measures must be taken effective immediately,” said the CS.

Uganda talks

He added: “We will crush the bandits. Banditry and cattle rustling in the North Rift will be learned in history books.”

According to Kindiki, some 14 out of the 21 schools that had been shut down, especially in Baringo County, because of bandit attacks have been reopened.

“Class eight classroom was the house of the head of the bandits. Class seven was the bedroom of the first wife. Class six was the bedroom of the second wife,” said Kindiki.

He told the Chute-led committee that the government had also opened talks with the Ugandan counterpart to seal cross-border banditry and seal escape routes for the bandits.

Last week, East Africa Community Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo held a meeting with their Ugandan counterparts in Moroto where they discussed the security concerns.

Retired Major General Jim Muhwezi, Minister of Security, headed the Ugandan delegation.