Tension is high in the banditry infested North Rift Valley circuit across six counties as the government’s 24-hours decree for civilians to vacate the 27 marked areas believed to harbor the blood thirsty criminals lapse today at 8:30am.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said those who will be found in the marked areas after the deadline will be regarded as bandits, facilitators of bandits or accessories to the crime.
The marked areas are spread across five counties where the government believes bandits have been hiding and using their families as human shield.
Kindiki said upon the expiry of the ultimatum this morning, the government will then embark on a new phase of the war that targets flushing the bandits from caves, forests, gorges and ravines.
“All law-abiding civilians have been ordered to immediately vacate: Korkoron Hills, Tandare Valley and Silale gorges in Baringo; Mukogodo Forest; Kamwenje, Warero and Ndonyoriwo; Lekuruki Hills, Losos and Kiape Caves and Sieku Valley in Laikipia.” Ordered the CS.
Similarly, civilians in Ltungai Conservancy, Longewan, Nasuur, Lochokia and Lekadaar Escarpments; Lolmolok Caves, Pura Valley, Malaso Escarpment and Suguta Valley in Samburu have also been ordered to vacate with immediate effect.
“Further, those currently in Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lebokat, Ombolion, Nadome and Kamur caves in Turkana; Turkwel Escarpment at the interface of West Pokot and Turkana counties are hereby ordered to get out before the lapse of the 24-hour ultimatum.” Kindiki added.
Deputy Inspector General of police Nur Gabow will lead the operation taking over from the Rift Valley Regional Police Commander.
Further, the CS outlawed low altitude overflight by any aircraft save for those involved in security operations.
The bandits are said to have taken advantage of the bad terrain, weapon supply and banditry leadership aided by unnamed political and spiritual leaders alongside business people profiteering from banditry activities.
In the last seven months, bandits in the area have killed 135 people mostly men, women and children in bloody raids.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have been deployed to aide the National Police Service (NPS) in an operation to flush out the criminals.