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State opens more security camps in Baringo to tame banditry, cattle rustling

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki addresses GSU officers at the Kosile camp in Baringo County on March 12, 2024. (Photo: X/ Interior ministry)

By Issa Hussein | 12 Mar 2024

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindik says the camps have been set up to neutralise the threats and steer the restoration of normalcy.

The government has opened security camps in Baringo County to address the threats of banditry and cattle rustling, following multiple attacks in recent weeks.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who visited Baringo County on Tuesday, said the Kosile GSU Camp was among several set up to neutralise the threats and steer the restoration of normalcy.

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"New security camps have been set up and pre-emptive kinetic operations are on course to neutralise threats and return to normalcy," he said.

Accompanied by General Service Unit (GSU) Commandant Eliud Lagat, the minister inaugurated the Kosile Camp, where new officers were deployed.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki inaugurates the Kosile GSU Camp in Baringo County on March 12, 2024. (Photo: X/ Interior ministry)

Kindiki stated that the government overhauled the deployment of units in the area, including the GSU, the Anti-Stock Theft Unit and the Rapid Deployment Unit.

He noted that actions were being taken as some parts were still grappling with the crimes.

"While significant strides have been made in containing bandit attacks staged by livestock robbers in Baringo South, five villages within Baringo South and Baringo North are yet to be fully pacified from the scourge," he said.

The villages - Namba, Ng'aratuko, Kagir, Yatya, and Kosile - have been mapped as volatile due to persistent banditry attacks.

One person died in the latest attack that took place five days ago at Chepkewei village in Saumu Soi Ward, police confirmed, adding that an unspecified number of livestock were stolen.

In February 2024, two children of a local chief were killed in a banditry attack while driving their livestock home.

In the same month, 55-year-old Thomas Kibet, head teacher of Kagir Primary School in Baringo North, was killed while taking his daughter to Kipcherere Secondary School.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki is pictured with security officials at the Kosile GSU Camp in Baringo County on March 12, 2024. (Photo: X/ Interior ministry)

Following the repeated attacks, CS Kindiki recently summoned Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi and parliamentarians from the country to a meeting to address the escalating insecurity.

CS Kindiki also visited the county commissioner's offices in Olkalou Town, Nyandarua County, and met with the County Security and Intelligence Team.

He directed the officials to achieve set targets for the maintenance of law and order, the prevention of crime, arrest of offenders, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

In Nakuru County, he held a briefing and status update forum with a multi-agency enforcement team at the county commissioner’s office.

The CS was updated on general measures for maintaining law and order, including suppression of urban criminal gangs, land fraud, domestic violence, and juvenile delinquency.