Nairobi, 14 Feb. Kenya’s President William Ruto has ordered the deployment of the army in a joint operation with the police which begins today to combat groups of armed bandits who are terrorizing several counties in the north, west and central part of the country.
“The security operations team will have two functions, namely to evict bandits and to protect schools and communities in these areas,” Ruto said Monday during a meeting with leaders from Baringo, one of the affected counties. , quoted today by local media.
Counties threatened by these criminals include Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu.
In a statement, Home Minister Kithure Kindiki said “over 100 civilians and 16 police officers have been brutally murdered in the past six months by marauding bandits and terrorist cattle rustlers.”
“In recent days, murderous gangs have escalated their terror against innocent Kenyans and law enforcement, and in the process have burned down schools, police vehicles and other social services,” Kindiki said, adding that “hundreds of Kenyans have been displaced from their homes.
Last Friday, six people, including four police officers, lost their lives in a bandit attack in the Kaakong area of Turkana County.
The government has declared the issue a “national emergency” and urged gun carriers to hand them over “immediately and unconditionally” because otherwise “the full force of the law” will fall on them. EFE
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