State declares area disturbed zone, kicks off dawn-to-dusk curfew
Zadock Angira and Christine Musa
Kapedo was yesterday declared a ‘disturbed zone’ and Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i gazetted a dusk to dawn curfew to enhance the ongoing security operation.
This is the second time in three years for the area to be declared a disturbed zone.
The decision in 2017 to gazette the areas as disturbed was arrived at after a series of consultations with the National Security Council.
Matiang’i said the area, which is at the border of Turkana and Baringo counties, has claimed the lives of many locals and security officers prompting the unprecedented operation.
“We want to deal with the menace once and for all. We will have to deal with the criminals behind this issue,” he said.
The CS was speaking after meeting the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace who is on a two-day visit in the country.
Among the latest victims of the insecurity are the head of the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), a Chief Inspector, and his driver who were shot dead last week.
This is the same location where the senior General Service Unit commander was shot dead.
“It is extremely unfortunate that extraordinary efforts to find a lasting solution to the security challenges and breakdowns in peace between the Pokot and Turkana communities, continue to face serious resistance from leaders, who have been patronising the deadly attacks in pursuit of criminal and selfish interests.”
Meanwhile Education CS George Magoha yesterday maintained that schools will remain closed in the troubled Kapedo area.
Speaking at Africa Inland Church Girls Primary School in Kajiado county, when he presided over the distribution of free sanitary towels to public schools, Magoha said the lives of the learners was of utmost importance to the government.
“For now, our learners’ safety is a priority and the government is in full control to ensure insecurity is contained,” said Magoha.
