New twist as police disable communication mast to ‘foil’ banditry attack

BARINGO, Kenya, Jan, 24 – As the security operation to flush out suspected bandits and restore peace in the now volatile Kapedo area intensifies, security personnel on the ground have now disabled a communication mast in Silale Hill, Shahidi News has learnt.

This has severed mobile communication in the areas bordering Baringo and Turkana county.

Senior police on the ground told Shahidi News that the decision was agreed upon and executed after it was established the bandits had resulted to using mobile communication and short form messages to plan and coordinate their attacks in recent days.

Despite efforts to foil their attacks, mobile communication has proved troublesome to security officers, with the bandits said to be most effective during the night, staging attacks on security personnel spearheading the ground operation.

Mobile activity according to communication providers working with police have revealed increased activity in areas that have predominantly been devoid of ‘permanent’ human occupation.

The communication mast in Silale Hill spanning an expansive radius will remain decommissioned until a status of normalcy is achieved, police said.

“Thousands of residents will have to be content with the lack of communication on their mobile devices until further notice,” a senior police officer privy to the move said.

Rift Valley Regional coordinator George Natembeya has assured that the government will protect civilians from banditry attacks and restore peace in the area.

“Actually to prevent the situation from spilling into other counties, we’ve directed security personnel to arrest and return suspected bandits to us so we deal with them,” Natembeya said.

With some schools remaining closed in the area, academicians are further calling on the teachers’ employer, TSC to provide risk allowance and insurance to teachers in areas prone to violence.

Teachers unions say they will factor this in when they will negotiate their next collective bargaining agreement.

Several politicians have also been questioned by investigating authorities on the ongoing violence after being accused of allegedly funding banditry activity.

Nine people have so far been killed this week during the attacks among them three police officers.

Major roads leading to the area have also been cordoned off with movement limited to security personnel.