Uneasy calm returns to banditry prone North Rift after years of bloodshed

BY JEREMIAH CHOGE

Uneasy calm is finally returning to the banditry prone counties in the North Rift after years of bloodshed, destruction of property and displacement of people following the government’s move to roll out a massive disarmament exercise in the region.

The government termed six banditry-prone counties in the North Rift among them Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu as 'disturbed' and 'dangerous' following the killing of at least 100 civilians and 16 police officers by armed bandits early this year and rolled out the security operation conducted by the National Police Service with the help of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

A spot check by Rural Times established that the massive operation seems to have borne fruit with calm returning to the region with residents beginning to lead their normal lives and engaging in their daily chores, a sharp contrast to what was the norm in the past.

Residents from the banditry prone region yesterday called on the government to ensure security is sustained in the restive region for normalcy to continue in the area.

In Samburu County, areas which were in the past notorious for runaway banditry such as Losuk, Molok, Longewan,Koron and Morio peace has been restored with locals going about their normal businesses.

“We thank the government for its efforts to assure us of our safety. Our people can now sleep peacefully. We wish the KDF will permanently remain here,” said Chris Lekailepi, a member of the Samburu council of elders.

“Our lives had completely been shattered following rampant cases of insecurity over the years as we could not engage in our daily activities. Our children had also been at home after many schools were closed down as a result of insecurity,” added Mr Lekailepi.

The same has been witnessed in Kapedo at the border of Baringo and Turkana counties and Kerio Valley in the neighbouring Elgeyo Marakwet County where no insecurity incident has been reported in the past one month.

Area residents said the region is endowed with enormous resources especially in tourism which they said if harnessed will transform the area economically.

“This region has continued to lag behind in development over the years due to runaway insecurity which has scared away potential investors. We are hopeful that the peace being witnessed currently will be sustained,” said Richard Chepchomei, a resident from the banditry prone Bartabwa in Baringo North constituency.

The security operation has so far seen the recovery of 148 firearms, with 96 of them being surrendered in Samburu County, according to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.

According to Kindiki, 31 people have so far been arrested in connection with banditry since the government launched the multi-agency security operation early this year.

“We will soon apprehend more people in connection with banditry in the North Rift. Some of those targeted are government officials, politicians and civilians,” said

Prof Kindiki when he toured the region last week.

“Our officers from the KDF and the National Police Service are working seamlessly to ensure that the ongoing operation to pacify the North Rift region succeeds,” added the CS.

The government has already established a security camp at Kolowa at the border of Tiaty constituency in Baringo County and Marakwet East in the neighbouring Elgeyo-Marakwet County.

The camp will have specialized security officers and will remain active even after the ongoing operation ‘Maliza Uhalifu North Rift’, according to Kindiki.

The government has since embarked on reconstruction of hundreds of schools which were vandalized as a result of the perennial banditry in the restive region which will cost Sh100 million.

The worst hit schools are in Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana and West Pokot counties which have seen learning paralyzed for many years.

According to Prof Kindiki, the money has already been released with officers from the KDF tasked to lead in the reconstruction exercise.

“We must make sure that this place remains out of bounds to bandits for the rest of our time,” said Prof Kindiki.

The government has already trained more than 200 National Police Reservists (NPRs) who will assist security personnel in beefing up security in the banditry prone region.