President Kenyatta calls for heightened vigilance among security agencies

His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed internal security institutions to heighten vigilance and surveillance across the country following the unfolding security situation in the region.

The Head of State gave the instructions during today’s National Security Council meeting.

This comes after two General Service Unit officers were on Wednesday shot dead in a fierce shootout with bandits at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.

According to police, the officers were confronted by the bandits a short distance from Kamwenje police base in Laikipia West prompting a fierce shootout.

Confirming the incident, Rift Valley police boss Francis Ochieng said they were pursuing the gang behind it.

“We have reinforcements on the ground pursuing the attackers,” he said.

The incident comes at a time when more personnel have been deployed to the area to flush out armed herders who have invaded private ranches for pasture.

This has prompted fighting between the security agents and the gunmen. Up to 15 police officers have been killed and ten others injured in the past five months in the violence in the area.

Police had also expressed concern over the recent unfolding events that may not only threaten the country’s national security but adversely impact other nations in the greater Eastern Africa region.

There is growing tensions in Ethiopia following reports that the Tigrayan rebels advancing towards the capital, Addis Ababa.

President Kenyatta has been on the forefront in seeking cessation of hostilities between parties in the Tigray conflict in the neighbouring Ethiopia where rebels have vowed to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.

The police said that it has scaled up border security over crisis in neighbouring countries.

Kenyans are advised to exercise vigilance and to practice caution in their surroundings and report suspected cases of undocumented aliens and unprocessed immigrants in the country.