State declares total war on North Rift bandits

The government has taken a multi-pronged approach to the worsening security situation in the North Rift, including imposing a 30-day night curfew in 16 sub-counties and deploying the military.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki yesterday declared the curfew in parts of Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, West Pokot, Samburu and Laikipia counties.

The order took effect last night.

“This Order shall apply during the hours of darkness with effect from February 14, 2023 and shall remain in effect for a period of thirty (30) days,” the order read.

As a result of the declaration, there will be no public gatherings, processions or movement, either alone or as a group during the period of the curfew unless permitted in writing by the Inspector-General of Police.

Section 8(1) of the Public Order Act and Sections 11 and 106(1) of the National Police Service Act allows the CS to declare a curfew if there is a serious threat posed to national security, public order and safety.

In Turkana County, the order affects Turkana South, Turkana East and Loima sub-counties while in West Pokot County, it applies in Pokot North and Sigor sub-counties.

In Elgeyo Marakwet County, the areas affected are Marakwet East and Marakwet West sub-counties while in Baringo County, Mukutani, Mochongoi, Bartabwa, Tiaty East and Tiaty West are under curfew.

Other areas are Olmoran, Ng’arua and Mukogodo divisions of Laikipia County and Loroki and Kirisia divisions of Samburu County.

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome also issued a legal notice on the prohibition of possession of arms and surrender of such arms in affected sub-counties.

Kindiki, however, said the curfew will not apply to the services, personnel or certain workers including  health workers, national security officers, public health and sanitation officers, licensed pharmaceuticals companies, pharmacies and drug stores and licensed broadcasters and media houses.

Yesterday, tension gripped the North Rift region after the government ordered the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to carry out a joint security operation with police to flush out bandits.

The government has termed the security situation in the region a “national emergency” with more than 100 civilians and 16 people killed in the last six months.

Escape routes

The affected counties have been described as “disturbed” and “dangerous”.

A spot check by People Daily yesterday revealed that it was a beehive of activity as police and KDF vehicles including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) snaked their way into the region.

Residents and human rights activists expressed optimism that the operation will end the bloodshed.

“We thank the government for finally hearing our cry. We hope the operation will this time achieve its objective. The government should also seal exit routes to ensure that the bandits do not flee to neighbouring counties,” said Richard Chepchomei, a resident of Baringo North sub-county.

“We are, however, still giving amnesty to unlicensed firearm and illegal ammunition holders to surrender them unconditionally within three days or face the law as per the President’s directive on Monday,” said a senior police officer who sought anonymity.

President William Ruto, who ordered the deployment of the KDF, said the government has determined the security situation currently prevailing in the North Rift as a national emergency.

“Accordingly, painful and decisive measures must be taken effective immediately. I have today February 13, 2023, declared through a Kenya Gazette Notice certain areas specified therein within Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu counties as ‘disturbed’ and ‘dangerous’ areas triggering the legal consequences arising therefrom,” the President said in his directive issued at State Lodge, Nakuru.

Four General Service Unit (GSU) officers were shot dead last Friday following an ambush by bandits at Napeimoit in Turkana County. The bandits also seriously injured seven others, including an OCPD, a GSU and Rapid Deployment Unit commanders.

The officers, however, managed to flush out the bandits and seized more than 40 rounds of ammunition, communication gadgets, a tortoise and other paraphernalia, according to the administrator.

The attackers also deflated the tires of the three Toyota Land cruisers and set ablaze another one during the attack.

Two days earlier, three people were killed when a Lodwar-bound matatu was shot at by bandits.

The government’s move comes after leaders from the North Rift region piled pressure for KDF to be deployed to the region as a lasting solution to the perennial problem.

Governors Wisley Rotich (Elgeyo-Marakwet), Benjamin Cheboi (Baringo), senators Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), William Cheptumo (Baringo) and MPs from the region have raised the alarm about the increase of firearms among herders.

“What is happening in Kerio Valley is worrying. This is no longer cattle rustling but it has become terrorism,” said Rotich.

Security experts who spoke to People Daily called for the regulation of livestock markets in the region as one way of sealing loopholes of trade in stolen animals.

Cattle microchips

Colonel (Rtd) Moses Kwonyike said retired KDF officers, serving and retired security personnel and chiefs should be investigated.

“Ordinarily these are civil servants who should be assisting the government identify where livestock which pass through their locations after raids are. They know those behind the raids but why haven’t they volunteered the information to the government?” posed Kwonyike.

Kwonyike says counties prone to cattle rusting including Baringo, Turkana, Laikipia and Samburu should come up with receipts which will bear the name and phone number of chiefs where the livestock come from before being sold in markets.

He recommends stringent measures in banditry ravaged areas.

“This should include micro-chipping of all animals along all the common borders. A central data collection point to track down all stolen animals should be established. 

“This will be fitted to choppers of security personnel which will be sending a signal to the central point during a raid. This will make it easy to recover stolen animals. This worked in Sudan,” said Kwonyike.