Africa-Press – Kenya. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a comprehensive security operation in Kainuk, a banditry hotspot on the border of Turkana and West Pokot counties. This follows a recent banditry incident in the area.
Murkomen said the government has made significant progress in restoring peace and normal life in many parts of the Kerio Valley.
“We have made significant progress in restoring peace and normal life in many parts of the Kerio Valley region. There are, however, areas where we need to do more to eradicate acts of banditry and weed out criminal elements trying to take us back,” Murkomen said on Monday during a tour of the Kerio Valley.
He added that the ongoing operation in Kainuk will include disarmament and the apprehension of perpetrators as well as their sponsors.
Accompanying him on the tour were Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat and senior security officials from both counties.
The Interior CS emphasised that the government is committed to restoring stability in the region and ensuring that normal life resumes for residents affected by banditry.
On January 31, at least four people were shot dead in a banditry attack in the Aroo area of Kainuk, Turkana County.
The victims included three herders and a road user. They were all shot at close range in Kakong village.
Other reports indicated that two more people had earlier been killed in the same area amid rising tension.
One was a driver in his saloon car, travelling from Lodwar to Kitale, when he was caught in the gunfight.
An unknown number of gunmen had raided the village and driven away 500 goats before leaving.
Local police reservists and police officers responded to the scene, prompting a gunfight that forced the gunmen to abandon the goats and flee.
It was then that police said the bodies of the herders and the driver were discovered.
The bodies were moved to the mortuary while the car was taken to the local police station pending further procedures.
An operation was later mounted in the area, but the gunmen had escaped amid fears they may return.
More personnel were sent to the area in an effort to prevent any planned attack, police said. The road was rendered impassable for a while as police escorted vehicles along the affected stretch.
This is the latest such incident in the area amid ongoing efforts to address the banditry menace.
The area is among those under Operation Maliza Uhalifu aimed at dealing with bandits.
The operation has managed to contain crime in the area and other counties despite persistent incidents. The operation targets Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Meru and Isiolo counties.
