Turkana South Member of Parliament (MP) John Namoit has refuted the orders by Interior CS Kindiki Kithure that people residing in the bandit-prone areas should vacate.
According to the Interior CS, this will allow the state room to fish out criminals.
However, in a statement on Monday, March 13 the Turkana South MP differed with CS Kindiki’s directions.
Namoit claimed that forcing residents out of the regions without providing an alternative destination for them is not practical.
The legislator further argued that residents in his constituency have established businesses and other activities that provide ends meet for them and their families.
“I disagree in totality with the order and do ask the CS to explore additional ways that they can use to protect the livelihoods of Kenyans living in these areas,” Namoit said.
“These Kenyans do not have immediate areas of refuge and their properties should be protected instead of ordering them to vacate.” He added.
Moreover, the Turkana South MP suggested several substitute methods to tame banditry in the region instead of forcing the residents to vacate.
In addition, Namoit urged CS Kindiki to carry out manual search in the areas that have been marked as breeding grounds for the gangs for easier identification.
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The lawmaker also said that the bandit dens identified by area elders should be ransacked as the information has already been shared with authorities.
He further opined that every community should return to their respective areas for ease of peace negotiations and disarmament.
“Past negotiations landed on deaf ears because some communities were residing inside other territories,” he said.
Nonetheless, the Interior CS gave the vacate order on Sunday, March 13 stating that the move is set to “inflict maximum pain on criminals” and neutralize the banditry menace that has already been declared a national emergency.
CS Kithure Kindiki also warned that any person found in the banditry-prone areas as from Monday, March 13, “will be treated as a suspect of armed banditry, or as a suspect of aiding and abetting banditry, or an accessory after the fact”.
