Following an increase in banditry along the Kitale-Lodwar highway, vehicles will now be escorted by police.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan announced on Thursday that bandits in the North Rift region appear to have changed their tactics and are now targeting areas that were previously perceived as peaceful.
“Bandits have moved to areas that were calm and peaceful. For instance, there are bandits operating along the Kitale-Lodwar road, attacking motorists. We have put them on notice and from today, vehicles plying that route will be escorted by security officers,” Mr Hassan said.
He stated that motorists would be escorted from Lami Nyeusi to Kainuk and urged road users to cooperate with security officers.
Mr Hassan, speaking in Doldol, Laikipia County, reassured Kenyans in the six insecure counties that security officers were on the case. Despite several deadly attacks in parts of Baringo, Samburu, and Turkana counties, the multi-agency security team deployed to track down the criminals appeared to have been outwitted.
“As security officers, we will not give the bandits room to spread terror. We will hunt them down, smoke them out of their hideouts and deal with them accordingly. I urge all leaders and citizens to cooperate with the relevant authorities so that we can eradicate banditry and cattle rustling in the region once and for all,” the administrator said.
Concerns have been raised in parts of Laikipia County about areas bordering Mukogodo Forest, an area designated as ‘disturbed and dangerous,’ with locals reporting an increase in house raids by cattle rustlers despite the ongoing security operation.
More than 300 residents of the area marched last week to the Laikipia County Commissioner’s office in Nanyuki to protest the growing number of cattle rustlers suspected of operating out of Mukogodo Forest.
The protest march, led by Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere and several county representatives, came two days after a raid on the former Speaker of the National Assembly’s homestead, during which a herder was shot dead and the criminals fled with 15 camels.
During a visit to Laikipia with Nakuru’s top security officer, Mr Hassan admitted that dealing with cattle rustling by bandits operating in Mukogodo Forest presented some challenges, which is why he decided to engage the local security team.
“We held a security meeting here with our local colleagues and agreed on strategies to rid the forest of criminals hiding in the forest. Security patrols in Doldol and surrounding areas will be increased,” said Mr Hassan.
He was accompanied by Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Tom Odero, DCI Francis Wanjau, and members of the Laikipia security committee, which was led by County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri.
