Governor Lelelit summoned by DCI over increased banditry in Samburu

Lelelit, who has has now been summoned for the second time in less than a month, blamed security officials for wasting time summoning him instead of dealing with the real criminals.
Samburu Governor Jonathan Lelelit on Tuesday appeared before the Rift Valley regional headquarters of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nakuru over increased banditry cases in the county.
According to Lelelit who has now been summoned for the second time in less than a month, blamed the security officials for wasting time summoning him instead of dealing with the real criminals behind the banditry attacks.
More To Read
- Murkomen blames rogue officers for illegal gun trade in bandit-prone regions
- Government to build seven police stations in Tiaty, Baringo in bid to curb banditry
- Murkomen appoints new principal secretaries, regional commissioners
- Murkomen orders bandits to surrender guns or face forceful disarmament
- Firearm smugglers from Uganda to Kenya mapped, arrests imminent, says Interior CS Murkomen
- Legal hurdles, missing bodies complicate Todonyang attack death toll confirmation - CS Murkomen
"People are being killed every day by bandits. It's unfortunate that instead of us staying there to help people, we are called here. We would be there helping the security people to find criminals," he said after the summon.
"Two days ago, a former police officer and an MCA were killed. Almost daily we have somebody killed and we are here wasting our time instead of being with our people."
The governor further said that the detectives had confiscated his phone for over a month.
"They have taken the phone for the last month, I don't know what they are doing. One week is enough to check if my phone is there and return it to me. This is a circus."
Earlier summon
On February 9, Lelelit was among seven people, including county staff, who were questioned by Rift Valley DCI officers over insecurity in the county.
Samburu is one of the counties that has been severely affected by cases of banditry and other forms of violent crimes in the country.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has been leading operations in the area in efforts to end the menace.
The Interior boss last week said cattle rustling in Northern Kenya has over the years become an organised criminal enterprise.
"Its impacts are severe. It deprives pastoral communities of their economic mainstay and aggravates the conditions of poverty in the rangelands, fueling communal grievances and revenge attacks," he said.
During a tour of the county, he promised the government would more resources in the war against banditry.
To dismantle the infrastructure of cattle rustlers and facilitators he said, the government will sustain the war on banditry and its perpetrators, enablers, benefactors and beneficiaries by making banditry a painful venture, ensuring recovery of stolen livestock and rewarding facilitators of recoveries.
Top Stories Today
- Missing human rights activist Mwabili Mwagodi found alive, hospitalised in Mombasa
- KRA to overhaul customs system, fully automate cargo operations by 2026
- Central African Republic's ruling party nominates incumbent president as candidate in upcoming polls
- Kenya moves towards digital addressing system with new Bill
- Kenya's oversight bodies crippled by underfunding, government disregard - report
- Sudan's paramilitary-led coalition announces formation of parallel government