On the morning of Sunday, March 12, 2023, Minister of the Interior Kithure Kindiki instructed all law-abiding citizens to leave the Northern Rift areas which is invested by bandits within 24 hours, as the operation to combat banditry entered a critical stage.
In a statement seen by K47 News team CS, Kindiki said that over the past 25 days, the security service had begun gathering intelligence and was engaged in careful intelligence gathering to locate areas it believed were the bandits’ hideouts.
“We are taking this war to their hideout by land and on air. The path we have chosen is full of hazards. Just this week we have lost nearly a dozen people in this location. We are aware that this war is going to be costly on us, civilians and security officers alike,” Kindiki said in a statement.
Among the areas where the government wants law-abiding citizens to leave with effect immediately are;
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, and
Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lebokat, Ombollion, Nadome and Kamur caves in Turkana County; the Turkwell Escarpment at the interface of West Pokot and Turkana Counties.
The government has declared the above area a hotbed of crime. Accordingly, the interior ministry said that from Monday, March 13, anyone found in the area will be treated as a suspect in an armed robbery or assisting in a robbery.
Accordingly, the government immediately banned low-level flights over the designated areas, except for aircraft on security duties.
