Ruto orders deployment of KDF soldiers to banditry-hit regions
President William Ruto has ordered the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces(KDF) officers to joint security operations with the police in all bandit-prone areas beginning Tuesday, February 14.
Speaking on Monday, February 13 at the Nakuru State Lodge, Ruto further gave a three-day amnesty for the surrender of firearms in the banditry-hit regions.
This follows another order calling on Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki to move out of his Nairobi office at Harambee Avenue to camp in the insecurity-stricken region until peace is restored.
"CS Kindiki is not here today because he was in Baringo and in Turkana the day before. I told him to leave his Nairobi office and go live in the North Rift until the banditry stops," Ruto stated.
The Head of State noted that the government is working towards combating banditry and ensuring that no more lives were lost as a result.
In the recent past, cases of banditry have been on the rise.
A few days ago, six people, including four police officers, were killed in a bandit attack on the Kitale-Lodwar highway in Turkana County on Friday, February 10.
Several other officers including the sub-county Police Commander were hospitalised after sustaining gunshot wounds during an hours-long gunfight with bandits.
Speaking yesterday, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya asked the president to go to the grassroots and speak with locals to identify the solution saying deploying more police officers will not solve a thing.
"I beseech you to talk to the locals in these regions and you will get to the bottom of the banditry problem," Natembeya stated.
