NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 2 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has said that the government is treating cattle rustling that has plagued Northern Kenya and North Rift Valley as acts of terrorism.
Kindiki who was appearing before the Senate National Cohesion and Human Rights Committee said that the Kenya Kwanza administration is determined to eliminate cattle rustling and banditry in the next few years.
He said that security forces would deal ruthlessly with politicians allegedly supporting these activities.
He has also promised to review laws to term the activities in North Rift as terrorism and has the full support of President William Ruto.
According to Kindiki, the government has set aside Sh20 billion for the Police equipment modernisation programme to tackle various security challenges, and is in discussion with the Ugandan government on the best ways to tackle banditry across the border.
The massive security personnel deployed in the areas declared as disturbed and dangerous will not be withdrawn any time soon, and the government will not accept losing uniformed officers in these volatile areas.
Kindiki has also lauded the special units which have gone out of their way to ensure the country is safe from terror threats and has admitted that access to some areas prone to banditry is not easy with a rough terrain with no good road network, no telephone network among other many challenges that make life difficult for residents.
The government is determined to ensure the safety of Kenyans and will use all human resources and weapons at its disposal to ensure the country is safe. It is committed to ending the menace in Northern Kenya and opening up the region for business, and will not negotiate with terrorists.
The guns must be silent, and the government will stay in volatile areas until crimes are brought to an end.
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