Ruto Orders Joint Police-KDF Operation In Fight Against Bandits

In addition, he also announced a three-day voluntary disarmament exercise starting February 14 which will allow for the surrender of guns with no repercussions.

"We will deal firmly with the drivers of illegal arms in the country. This is necessary and urgent, particularly in the North Rift.

President William Ruto speaking at State House, Nakuru on February 13, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO

"We must always endeavour to nurture peace for the transformation of our country," stated Ruto in part.

The President had engaged the Baringo County Members of Parliament (MP), Members of the County Assembly (MCA) and grassroots leaders led by Governor Benjamin Cheboi, where they agreed to keep engaging for the fast delivery of services to the ordinary people.

This comes a day after President Ruto had issued instructions to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to temporarily relocate from his Nairobi-based office and live in the North Rift region to tame the rampant insecurity there.

Speaking during an interdenominational Church service at the Nakuru Athletic Club Grounds, Nakuru County on Sunday, February 12, Ruto told the congregation that he had ordered Kindiki to leave the Harambee Avenue office, to the insecurity-stricken region to the North Rift.

As part of the government's concerted efforts to deal with the menace, Ruto directed Kindiki not to leave the region until the rampant insecurity situation has been brought under control.

"I know we have issues regarding security operations in North Rift. Out of all CSs you have been shown, the Interior CS is not here. This is because he is there. Today he was in Baringo.

"Previously, he was in Turkana. I instructed Kindiki to leave Nairobi and go live in the North Rift until the vice of people losing their lives stops. With the government's efforts, we will deal with them and ensure no Kenyan life is lost. We will deal with them ruthlessly," he noted. 

Ruto's comments followed those of Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya decrying the troubled welfare of police officers deployed in the affected regions.

Cattle rustlers and bandits have wreaked havoc in the country’s North Rift region, leading to the loss of hundreds of lives, displacement of residents, and loss of thousands of livestock. The most affected counties are Baringo, Turkana and Elgeyo Marakwet.

On Friday, February 10, four police officers were among six people killed along the Kitale-Lodwar Highway after 300 suspected armed bandits ambushed them during their patrols at night. 

At the same time, seven officers, including a sub-county Police Commander, were hospitalised with gunshot wounds in the gunfight that lasted hours into the night.

The fierce gunfight was recorded by a passenger in a vehicle that was part of a convoy of vehicles escorted by police and showed bandits numbering about 300 in the bush.

On Thursday, three people were killed and one critically injured in another attack at the Kakong area in Turkana South, where bandits who posed as bystanders along the road ambushed a Lodwar-bound Public Service Vehicle, spraying it with bullets.

In the same county, bandits ambushed a matatu full of passengers, spraying bullets on it along the Kitale-Lodwar road while it was travelling on Friday night, February 3.