The ongoing security operation to flush out bandits in the troubled North Rift region will be led by Deputy Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow, the National Police Service has announced.
In a statement on Monday, March 13, NPS said Gabow will be the new commander in charge of the operation dubbed "Maliza Uhalifu North Rift" being carried out by the police and officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
"Mr. Gabow met with the Commander Kenya Army Lieutenant General Peter Mbogo Njiru at Chemolingot Multi-Agency Command Centre on March 11, 2023, as part of their strategic security engagement," NPS said.
Yesterday the government ordered residents to vacate 27 escarpments, forests and gorges in Baringo, West Pokot, Laikipia, Turkana and Samburu counties within 24 hours ahead of a major security operation.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki said the security agencies had finally found a way around the bad terrain and is expected to upscale security operations in the banditry-infected North Rift by taking the war to their hideouts by land and air.
“This vice has been supported all along by a toxic mix of bad terrain, weapon supply and banditry leadership. We have found a way around the bad terrain. Therefore, security agencies will now onwards be taking the war to the bandits,” the CS said.
“In the last 25 days, the security agencies have engaged in meticulous intelligence gathering to establish the identity, stature and sophistication of the network perpetuating the orgy of violence in the region,” he added.
Kindiki said there are hundreds of heavily armed bandits holed up in difficult-terrain, remote and inaccessible areas at the bottom of gorges, escarpments, caves and ravines, some in the middle of hills spread across the region.
Kindiki warned that the new measures will inflict maximum pain on criminals who had also recruited unarmed civilians, including women and children, to act as human shields.
“I see long and difficult days ahead as we confront this monster of banditry,” he warned.
Areas to be vacated are Korkoron Hills, Tandare Valley and Silale Gorges in Baringo County, Mukogodo Forest; Kamwenje, Warero and Ndonyoriwo; Lekuruki Hills, Losos and Kiape Caves and Sieku Valley in Laikipia County, and Ltungai Conservancy, Longewan, Nasuur, Lochokia and Lekadaar Escarpments; Lolmolok Caves, Pura Valley, Malaso Escarpment and Suguta Valley in Samburu County
Others are Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lebokat, Ombollion, Nadome and Kamur caves in Turkana County; and the Turkwell Escarpment at the interface of West Pokot and Turkana counties.
In a subsequent order on Monday, the CS excluded Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lobokat, Lokoron, the Turkwell Escarpment and Ombollion areas within Turkana and West Pokot Counties from the orders.
At the same time, the CS added new areas including Ng’elecha Hills and Gorges, Ramacha and Losokoni Caves, Laramoru Gorges, Karau Hills, Noosidan Escarpment, Rugus Caves and the Amaya Gorges at the interface of Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu Counties on the list of the regions targeted.
“Members of the public should vacate these areas within 24 hours commencing today 13th March 2023 1930 Hours. Any member of the public found in the spaces specified in this paragraph after Tuesday 14th March 2023 1930 Hours will be treated as a suspect of armed banditry, or as a suspect of aiding and abetting banditry, or an accessory after the fact,” he added.
The government says over 135 innocent Kenyans including 20 security officers have been killed by marauding bandits in the last seven months in Baringo, Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
