Kindiki Declares Curfew In Parts Of Meru, Isiolo & Marsabit Counties

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has extended the curfew order under the ongoing Maliza Uhalifu Operation aimed at comprehensively dealing with bandits to three counties.

In a statement, Kindiki revealed that the operation which commenced on February 14, 2023, is being extended into parts of Meru, Isiolo and Marsabit Counties. 

"New areas in the Northern Grazing Area in Meru North, parts of Isiolo and Marsabit Counties and the remaining banditry hotspots in Samburu County will shortly come under curfew and emergency measures to facilitate the flushing out of bandits and recovery of stolen livestock.

Interior Cs Kithure Kindiki with security teams at Archer's Post, Samburu County on Thursday, December 28, 2023. /KITHURE KINDIKI

"Additional areas will be gazetted as 'Disturbed and Dangerous' as the Operation assumes its third phase," announced the CS. 

Kindiki added that the government condoles and stands in solidarity with the families whose kin have been harmed and those of frontline security officers who have sacrificially fallen in the line of duty. 

He further noted that going into 2024, the government will remain glued to the vision of defeating banditry, destroying its evil infrastructure as well as building resilience of affected communities and mainstreaming them into National Development. 

KIndiki held a strategic, review and forward planning engagement with security teams from Rift Valley and Eastern Regions, and Formation Field Commanders at Archer's Post, Samburu County. 

He also used the occasion to review operations at the Archer's Post Multi-Agency vehicle checkpoint which is making critical contributions to the fight against the flow of illicit arms, trafficking in persons and movement of narcotics and psychotropic substances along the Moyale-Isiolo-Nairobi Highway.

On Boxing Day (December 26), Kindiki revealed that the incidents of banditry and its debilitating effects on the people of the Northern Rift Valley Region were contained by 70%.

"Building on the lessons so far, the Government aims at eradicating the menace of banditry and destroying its political, cultural and commercial networks. 2024 is a decisive year.

"The suppression of bandit terror will give way to opening up of the region through social amenities, economic infrastructure and durable peace-building programs spearheaded by the Government but involving non-governmental stakeholders," he stated at the time.