State resumes Baringo arms mop up
The government has resumed a massive security operation in the restive areas of Baringo and Turkana counties.
Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya said the action was taken after local leaders, who had requested for time to aid in mopping up illegal firearms, failed to live up to their promise.
The government had given the leaders 30 days to engage respective electorate and root out criminal elements.
Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis, his West Pokot’s counterpart John Lonyangapuo and Tiaty MP William Kamket had pleaded for immediate ceasefire during a peace meeting held in Baringo two weeks ago.
They had urged the government to suspend the operation and allow a peaceful disarmament in the bandit-prone areas as well as preach peace among residents.
However, amid rising cases of insecurity in the area, Natembeya said the leaders had only managed to mop up three guns while security agencies had collected more than 60.
He noted the slow results were a major setback in efforts to ensure the region remains peaceful adding the operation is now back in full force.
Speaking at his office yesterday, Natembeya said the unprecedented operation will cover Tiaty East and West in Baringo, Turkana East and Laikipia.
“The leaders had come up with alternative ways to bring an end to the vice in the region although the agreement has borne no fruit,” said Natembeya, adding that some leaders, who were tasked with the exercise, resorted to political supremacy battles hence derailing the objective of the agreement.
“We gathered intelligence that some locals were proposing to be paid Sh100,000 once they returned the guns, something that is unrealistic, some leaders were also insincere,” added Natembeya.
He said senior security chiefs will be meeting with all operation commanders stationed in the area to commence the operation.
He further added that all movement in and out of the operation zones will be restricted, saying all roadblocks leading in and out of the areas will be activated.
According to him, well-wishers and donors wishing to supply food to residents must disclose their target groups and obtain police escort to avoid feeding bandits during the operation.
Equal to the task
“Unless you have any valid reason to visit the area, please keep off. Leaders are not part of the operation team and are not coordinating anything to benefit security,” he said.
Natembeya added that they have formally written to the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior to gazette the areas as disturbed zones and enforce a special dusk to dawn curfew.
He added that the same will also aid in sanctioning the deployment of more security agencies to deal with the banditry for good.
“It is unfortunate that no leader has courage to talk to the criminal elements in their respective areas and it is a case of bandits having a say over the leaders,” said Natembeya.
He, at the same time, confirmed that the restive areas have a lot of guns in the wrong hands saying the major aim is to mop up all guns from the locals.
“This operation does not have a time limit and it will be conducted until our objectives are achieved, if we need the assistance of the military, we will communicate. However, at the moment we are equal to the task,” he added.
He brushed off considerations by locals to return the NPRs so they can save lives, pursue bandits and recover stolen animals saying since their disarmament, crime had reduced.
The operation began on January 25 after armed bandits attacked a team of officers at the border of Turkana and Baringo counties where three police officers were killed.
The officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) were responding to cases of cattle theft in the area before being ambushed.
Communities living in the area have been fighting over the control of Kapedo Trading Centre for a number of years resulting in numerous deaths.
