The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives have taken possession of the helicopter of David Pkosing, a member of parliament representing Pokot South, for forensic investigation as they close in on supporters of bandits.
On Saturday, Michael Sang, the head of the Serious Crimes Unit, led the team that searched for evidence by inspecting the helicopter at the Wilson Airport hangar.
Pkosing was interrogated at the DCI headquarters in Nairobi on Thursday and again on Friday, over suspected connections to bandits.
The MP refutes allegations that he used his aircraft to facilitate banditry in the North Rift region.
During the forensic inspection, Pkosing’s lawyers, who were present, described the exercise as harassment and an exercise in futility.
They stated that Pkosing was being accused of involvement in commercializing the stolen cattle.
They also said that the cows that were being taken were often handed over to him.
Pkosing interpreted the investigation as political and said he had paid bond for young people who were suspected of cattle rustling in West Pokot.
He asserted that he owned the helicopter but denied that the one that went viral on social media was his.
In an attempt to tackle insecurity in the region, Kithure Kindiki, the Interior Cabinet Secretary, declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in areas prone to banditry.
He designated them as disturbed and hazardous, and Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) and other multi-agency teams have joined an operation in Pokot and surrounding areas.
The six counties affected by the curfew are West Pokot, Laikipia, Turkana, Baringo, Samburu, and Elgeyo Marakwet.
Multi-agency teams launched the operation after Kindiki reported that bandits had brutally murdered more than 100 civilians and 16 police officers in the North Rift region.
President William Ruto announced an arms amnesty, and nine rifles have been surrendered to the authorities.
National Police Service spokesperson, Resila Onyango, encouraged residents to cooperate with the multi-agency security team by surrendering illegal firearms and sharing information that could help restore peace and security in the disturbed areas.
In another incident, bandits killed three people, including a National Police Reservist, in the Mlango area of Burat ward, Isiolo county.
The authorities believe that the attackers crossed over from the neighboring Samburu county and were seeking camels in the area.
This happened just a few days after two others were killed in a similar clash in the Loruko area.
Police said the attackers stole the reservist’s firearm and an unknown number of livestock.
The incident has sparked tensions and fears of retaliation.
The Isiolo county commissioner, Geoffrey Omoding, confirmed that the search for the criminals and the effort to recover the firearm is ongoing, and more personnel have been deployed to the region to boost operations against gangs raiding Isiolo.
