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Tension high as State expands region under security surveillance

Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 06:50 | By
Tension high as State expands region under security surveillance
Interior CS Prof Kithure Kindiki (centre) with senior security officers in the bandits prone areas of Turkana recently. The CS has ordered residents to immediately vacate. COURTESY

The government yesterday added more areas to the list of hotspots in the restive North Rift region and ordered residents to vacate them immediately.

In a statement released last evening, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki ordered residents of Ng’elecha Hills and Gorges, Ramacha and Losokoni caves,  Laramoru Gorges, Karau Hills, Noosidan Escarpment, Rugus Caves and the Amaya Gorges at the interface of Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu counties to vacate immediately ahead of the impending operation to rid the region of bandits. 

“Members of the public should vacate those areas within 24 hours commencing today March 13, 1930 hours,” said Kindiki.

The order removed Kapelbok, Nakhwamoru, Lobokat, Lokoron, the Turkwell escarpment and Ombollion areas in Turkana and West Pokot from the target list.

Yesterday’s development came as tension gripped the affected areas after the government rolled out the second phase of the security operation to flush out bandits in the region.  A spot check by People Daily yesterday revealed many residents started fleeing the region ahead of the operation fearing for the wrath of the no-nonsense officers who include the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). Residents who spoke to People Daily lauded the government move to roll out the security operation even as they hoped that it will achieve results.

 “The government’s move to order good citizens to vacate the insecurity hotspots is a step in the right direction to deal with the bandits. The government should cease from issuing threats. What we want to see is action,” said Nicholas Cherungus, a resident of Baringo county.

 Elgeyo-Marakwet governor Wisley Rotich welcomed the deployment of the army which he said would end killings of innocent civilians in the restive region which has seen more than 100 people including 24 police officers killed in the past six months.

 “The operation had not achieved much as the KDF officers were receiving instructions from police officers. A serious operation should now start if any meaningful peace is to be achieved,” said Governor Rotich who threatened last week that residents will be forced to arm themselves if the government fails to assure them of their safety.

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