Four bandits killed, six AK-47 rifles recovered in security raid in Meru County
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently acknowledged that Meru County has for years been plagued by cattle raids and bandit attacks, which have led to civilian deaths and large-scale theft of livestock.
Four armed bandits were on Tuesday shot dead and six AK-47 rifles recovered during a raid by security officers in Kubisera village, Igembe in Meru County.
According to the Counter Terrorism Policing, the operation was carried out by a multi-agency security team following credible intelligence about a makeshift camp set up by the suspects in the remote area.
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The agency said that during the confrontation, security personnel engaged the suspects in a shootout that resulted in the killing of four of them.
In addition to the firearms, officers also recovered 527 rounds of ammunition and eight mobile phones believed to have been used in coordinating criminal activities.
“Our security team confronted and killed four armed bandits and recovered six AK rifles, 527 bullets, and eight mobile phones,” the authority said.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts by the government to root out armed criminal gangs terrorising communities in the region.
Authorities said surveillance and ground operations will continue in the area as part of the broader mission to restore peace and security.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently acknowledged that Meru County has for years been plagued by cattle raids and bandit attacks, which have led to civilian deaths and large-scale theft of livestock.
However, he noted that significant progress had been made over the past two years in curbing the vice.
“The government has made great efforts to address issues of banditry in the Meru region, especially in the last two years,” he said in Meru while concluding the Jukwaa La Usalama tour of Upper Eastern, where banditry, border disputes and illicit brews were key topics.
He added that improved security equipment, better strategies and the deployment of additional police officers have led to a notable decline in such incidents.
“We have even formed units and stations in between the county of Isiolo and the county of Meru where we have the biggest problem of banditry,” Murkomen said.
“Most of these bandits come all the way from Samburu, some from Isiolo, and they have caused havoc in this county. I am glad that a lot of progress has been made; the statistics show that there has been a significant reduction since last year, but the problem has not been eliminated.”
Eradicate the menace
Murkomen emphasised that more strategies were being developed in coordination with grassroots leaders to completely eradicate the menace.
“Our duty today is to firm up more strategies, building from the meeting I had in Isiolo with some of the grassroots leaders to ensure that we eradicate this problem,” he said.
As part of the broader strategy to tackle cattle rustling, the Interior CS said the government would conduct proper vetting and redeployment of National Police Reservists (NPRs).
“We will be looking at replacement of NPRs; some were killed, as you know, and some have since deserted duty due to drunkenness and indiscipline,” he said.
He added that the recruitment of new NPRs will be carried out by sub-county security teams in a transparent manner to ensure only qualified individuals serve the community.
“We are going to make sure that replacement is done, but also vet to ensure that they are fit for the job and are serving the community,” he said.
Boundary disputes
Murkomen also addressed boundary disputes affecting Meru, saying that the county faces challenges along its borders with Isiolo and Tharaka Nithi.
“We also have cases of conflict between farmers and herders on the Isiolo side. We are going to find better ways of working out these issues… we know that this is not a one-off issue, but listening to the people from the grassroots and building on the proposals, we will be able to have one approach nationally,” he said.
He noted that the Senate had previously developed a legal framework to resolve such boundary disputes and assured that the matter would be addressed at the national level.
The Interior CS further pointed out the growing concern over illicit brews, drug trafficking, human trafficking and the presence of undocumented individuals in Meru due to its proximity to the Isiolo-Marsabit border corridor.
“We have been carrying out serious crackdowns and we are going to discuss strategies that can deal with local brew, adulterated brew and second-generation brew,” he said.
“We have identified some of the actors, some have been arrested, and others are being pursued,” Murkomen said.
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