The government is stepping up efforts to quash bandits and secure dangerous areas in the North Rift, with full disarmament planned.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki spoke in an interview with the Star about the end of the amnesty on illegal arms surrender, the continuing attacks by bandits and the government’s plan to collect all illegal guns in the area.
Despite the dusk-to-dawn curfew, the killings have continued, and hundreds of people have fled their homes.
The North Rift is the largest security challenge of Kindiki’s career, and he admitted there had been a slow pace in meeting expectations.
He said the government had operational challenges but had a solution, and that the issue would be dealt with permanently.
He also dismissed allegations of collusion between bandits and security personnel.
The problem in Marsabit was different, Kindiki said, as it went beyond cattle rustling and was laced with unhealthy and unlawful ethnic supremacy struggles.
