Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has given law enforcement personnel the green light to use deadly force against armed criminal suspects targeting security officers and police camps.
Speaking on Friday, September 22, 2023, during the inauguration of the Akwichatis GSU Camp in Silale, Tiaty Baringo County, Kindiki maintained that police officers have the right to protect themselves and the public from undue harm, especially in dangerous zones.
"Any armed criminal suspects targeting security officers and police camps should be shot dead," Kindiki said.
The quote was loosely translated from his Kiswahili verbatim:
"…alafu yule jambazi mkora atajaribu kutumia silaha kulenga ama kujaribu kuumiza afisa wa usalama, ni ile safari ya one way. Tunawapeleka ile safari ya kwenda bila kurudi na tunamnunulia ticket."
Kindiki warned that areas gazetted as disturbed and dangerous zones on February 13, 2023, remain out of bounds by members of the public until they are declared peaceful.
Further, the CS appealed to security personnel to continue with the fight to tamp down tensions in Baringo as well as the enduring cattle rustling menace.
He noted that should locals lose their cattle to rustlers, officers must not only recover the livestock but also hand over suspects to face criminal charges.
"Our strategy is to prevent rustling. However, in the unlikely event that cattle rustlers succeed, officers must recover all stolen livestock. In addition, we must stop just producing livestock we must also produce suspects to face charges," CS Kuthure Kindika stated.
