NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 13 — Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has lifted the lid on the elusive fight against banditry in the North Rift that has cost lives and displaced thousands of residents.
Natembeya, who also served as the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner under President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, blamed the ineffective war on insufficient funding and lack of a clear strategy by successive government.
He said security officers in bandit-prone areas lack basics such as food rations and allowances.
“The situation has become so dire that it gets to a point where our officers are resorting to forming an unholy alliance with the bandits, trading ammunition for goats just to have something to eat. It is shameful,” the former Regional Commissioner said.
Natembeya highlighted that the security personnel working in high-risk areas receive a salary comparable to that of traffic officers working in secure regions of the country.
He went on to say that during his tenure as the regional security chief, he was never provided with funds to combat banditry, making his job an arduous challenge.
Sabotage
Natembeya recounted an experience which he says had him consider quitting his national administration post.
Natembeya said during the multi-agency campaign against banditry in the Laikipia conservancy he witnessed what he likened to sabotage from a section of security personnel tasked with restoring order in the region.
“What I witnessed at the Laikipia conservancy is what made me decide to quit this job. Because when we gave clear coordinates to the KDF personnel of the location of the bandits, they end up attacking a different location,” he said.
“This is due to the fact that the individuals they are supposed to deal with are the same ones who are sitting at the table with them while making important decisions to confront them,” he added.
The Trans-Nzoia County boss appealed to President William Ruto “not to accept to be shielded from the challenges faced by the public” by his handlers.
“As a leader there is a chance that you will only be presented with a biased perspective on issues.”
“You come here, walk on a red carpet yet on the other end people are being killed. Please don’t lose touch with the common Mwananchi,” Natembeya pleaded.
