Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has ordered residents of bandit-infested areas 24 hours to evacuate as it prepares to flush out hundreds of bandits hiding in rugged terrain.
The evacuation order affects parts of the counties of Baringo, Laikipia, Samburu, and Turkana.
These areas include; Korkoron Hills, Tandare Valley and Silale Gorges in Baringo County; Mukogodo Forest; Kamwenje, Warero and Ndonyoriwo; Lekuruki Hills, Losos and Kiape Caves and Sieku Valley in Laikipia County; Ltungai Conservancy, Longewan, Nasuur, Lochokia and Lekadaar Escarpments; Lolmolok Caves, Pura Valley, Malaso Escarpment and Suguta Valley in Samburu County.
Others include the Turkana County caves of Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lebokat, Ombollion, Nadome, and Kamur, as well as the Turkwell Escarpment at the border of West Pokot and Turkana Counties.
“The above specified spaces are hereby declared scenes of crime and any person found therein from Monday March 13, 2023 at 0830 hours will be treated as a suspect of armed banditry, or as a suspect of aiding and abetting banditry, or an accessory after the fact. Everyone must get out,” Kindiki said.
Kindiki also prohibited any aircraft in the area from flying at low altitudes, with the exception of operational aircraft. He warned that any additional aircraft found would be considered a threat.
“Apart from aircrafts taking part in the ongoing security operation, low altitude overflight by any other aircraft over any of the afore specified areas is hereby banned with effect from Monday, March 13, 2023, until further notice.”
The government has launched an operation to apprehend the bandits who have terrorised residents and security forces with sporadic attacks. The bandits have been hiding in gorges, ravines, and caves, according to the CS, and they have also recruited unarmed civilians, including women and children, to act as human shields.
Kindiki stated that the government has identified and will pursue the leaders and beneficiaries of the bandit groups. He claimed that one of the bandits’ spiritual leaders had been apprehended and would soon face justice.
“Intelligence has led us to identify a handful of senior commanders in charge of the bandit network as well as their spiritual leaders, political patrons and the commercial beneficiaries of bandit gangs. We know who they are, where they are and how they are operating,” he said.
He acknowledged that the operation would be costly and dangerous, given that nearly a dozen people had died this week. He stated that the government will offer rewards for information leading to the arrest of bandit commanders and that new security measures will be implemented.
He assured the public that the government is determined to restore peace and stability to the affected areas.
