Nairobi, Kenya, Feb 16 – At least 100 civilians and 16 police officers have been killed in the last six months following bandit attacks in the North Rift Region.
Interior Cabinet Secretary said in a statement Monday that the murderous gangs have in the recent past escalated their terror on innocent Kenyans and law enforcement agencies and in the process burnt down schools, police vehicles, and other social amenities.
“During the attacks, hundreds of Kenyans have been displaced from their homes. The government has determined the security situation currently prevailing in the Northern Rift Valley Region as a National Emergency. Accordingly, painful and decisive measures must be taken effective immediately,” Kindiki said.
Kindiki also announced the declaration of a month-long curfew in parts of the North Rift region to combat banditry.
The dusk-to-dawn curfew which takes effect Tuesday, February 14, will pave way for a major security operation to pacify the area that has witnessed a rise in banditry and cattle rustling in recent months.
The curfew will be enforced in counties mostly from the Kerio valley Belt including West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Laikipia, Baringo, Samburu, and Turkana.
“Under this Order, there shall be no public gatherings, processions or movement, either alone or as a group during the period of the curfew except as has been permitted in writing by the Inspector General of the National Police Service,” read a gazette notice signed by Kindiki.
The statement comes a day after President William Ruto reiterated the government’s commitment to stamp out banditry in the restive North Rift region.
Ruto said Sunday that his administration will do everything in its power to rid the region of bandits who continue to wreak havoc in the country with the latest incident being the killing of four people, including three police officers, in Turkana.
The Head of State said that his administration will step up its efforts to restore peace in the region that has suffered the brunt of frequent banditry attacks and cattle rustling.
“We have put in place measures to ensure that we deal decisively with the few individuals who continue to test our resolve by terrorizing the country so that we safeguard the lives of Kenyans,” Ruto said during a public engagement in Nakuru.
Ruto stated that he had directed the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to pitch camp in the North Rift to bring to an end the banditry menace that has continued to cost lives.
He pointed out that the security operation will be conducted by a multi-agency security team including officers drawn from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
