The Ministry of Internal and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has declared a full-scale security operation involving the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
CS Murkomen, in a statement on Thursday, March 27, announced that the joint NPS and KDF operation has been declared to deal with banditry and restore security in the North Rift counties of Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Samburu and Elgeyo/Marakwet.
The officers, Murkomen adds, will work closely with the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOS), NPRs and Rangers.
Murkomen also announced the establishment of a new police command, the second Operation Maliza Uhalifu (OMU), to flush out bandits in Laikipia County at Mukokodo forest.
The CS announced at a security meeting at Kirimon NYS training camp that the new base will complement the Chemolingot command base in Operation Maliza Uhalifu in Kerio Valley.
Operation
According to the CS, OMU Two will have its command Centre in Kirimon in Laikipia County tasked to deal with the emerging crimes in the troubled areas, restore peace and normalcy.
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The new operation will cover Samburu, Laikipia, Isiolo and parts of Meru counties.
“We are separating command centres. We are setting a new command center at Kirimon, it will complement Chemalingot base in Operation Maliza Uhalifu,” said the CS.
He added, “We still have a problem in Mukokodo forest, parts of Samburu East and Maralal. We are enhancing our operations to restore peace.”
According to CS Murkomen, OMU Two will have its commander and will deal with emerging security trends that has a spill over to neighboring counties.
The CS also stressed that NPRs and Rangers are not answerable to politicians, and therefore should not be turned to their personal militias.
Murkomen fires warning
He further put on notice politicians aiding banditry and fueling insecurity in Kerio Valley, warning that they will face full force of the law.
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On Wednesday, CS Murkomen visited Baringo county in the wake of the recent banditry attacks and held a meeting with the Multi agency security team involved in the ongoing operation.
He was briefed on the milestones the operation has achieved.
The CS commended the team for their commitment, cooperation and discipline they have showed in the operation, even as he reiterated the Government to support OMU.
“Operation Maliza Uhalifu has done tremendous work and commendable progress. Peace and normalcy has been restored in many areas and economic activities have resumed,” CS Murkomen noted.
“There is one area that is disturbed in Baringo county that we are dealing with and already stolen livestock has already been recovered.”
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