We've made strides in tracking masterminds of banditry attacks- CS Kindiki

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki. [Kevin Macharia, Interior]

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki says politicians alleged to be funding banditry attacks in the North Rift region will be brought to book if found guilty.

Appearing before the Senate Parliamentary Sitting on Wednesday, April 26, Kindiki said the ministry has made significant progress in tracking the masterminds behind the banditry attacks.

"We have on our radar a number of politicians of different cadres whose activities have been linked to the support, funding, and encouragement of banditry. Very soon we will have profiled the arraignment of commands of bandits," said Kindiki.

The CS added that the ministry has built enough evidence to support cases that could incriminate political leaders and other top figures involved.

Already, the Interior Ministry has noted a tremendous improvement in the recovery of stolen livestock during the banditry raids, since August 2022.

"Out of the 500 livestock stolen since January, we have recovered 200. Three hundred are still at large and the reason is that once these criminals steal, they separate the livestock in small groups and disappear," he explained.

On February 12, the CS ordered residents to vacate some parts of the North Rift which were believed to be used by bandits as hideouts.

The government then deployed a joint operation to restore normalcy in the region which Kindiki said improved the state of security in the region.

"After we gave orders, the unintended consequence was that some criminals took the 24-hour notice to mix with the rest of the population. Our security officers were able to dominate all the places identified as hideouts in Baringo, Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana, West Pokot, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties and captured them all."

Kindiki has assured that his Ministry is improving intelligence to flush out bandits in the prone areas.

He has promised to ensure the continuous presence of security officers in the areas even after the end of operations to make sure that bandits never return.