Residents in Samburu have surrendered at least 96 guns and hundreds of ammunition even as the government intensifies anti-banditry operations in six counties.
On Friday, May 19, 2023, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced that the government was partnering with residents to help identify bandits in the North Rift region, who have terrorised natives for years.
"All guns illegally in the hands of civilians must be recovered. The multi-agency security team pursuing armed criminals and bandits in the North Rift Valley region will continue to partner with residents to identify and disarm criminals," Kindiki said.
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"The Government appreciates residents of Samburu County who have surrendered 96 guns and hundreds of ammunition in the last few weeks. The intelligence-led security operation will continue until all criminals are flushed out of their hideouts."
In February, the government termed the current security situation in the Northern Rift Valley region as a "national emergency".
The government flagged six bandit-prone counties in the region including Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwt, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu as 'disturbed' and 'dangerous'.
Samburu intelligence meeting
On Friday, Kindiki held a joint meeting of the Rift Valley Regional Security and Intelligence Committee and the Samburu County Security and Intelligence Committee at Longewan, Samburu County.
The meeting was convened to review and assess the success and challenges of the ongoing Maliza Uhalifu joint NPS- KDF operation.
On Thursday, Kindiki chaired a security meeting of the Rift Valley region and Baringo County Security and Intelligence Committees.
He also presided over the pass-out of 200 National Police Reservists to support the National Police Service-Kenya Defence Forces Maliza Uhalifu Operation.
"(I also) toured Korkoron Hills and Caves, Tandare Valley, Arabal Hills and Ng’elecha Ravine to confirm that bandits and armed criminals are no longer using these areas as hideouts," Kindiki stated.
He announced that the areas will be fenced off and permanently dominated by a multi-agency security deployment to ensure that dangerous criminals do not creep back in there to launch attacks.
