Breaking Point: NSAC To Meet Over Insecurity In Laikipia

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 3- The National Security Advisory Council (NSAC) will hold a meeting on Saturday morning to review the security situation in Laikipia County.

Interior PS Dr. (Eng.) Karanja Kibicho said the Government will change tact in its approach to insecurity in the county after various interventions it has deployed so far failed to restore peace.

The PS described the Friday killing of one person as the breaking point of the government’s patience.

Suspected bandits attacked Pewa Farm in Laikipia West, shot dead a 35-year-old man, left a 12-year-old girl with gunshot wounds before escaping.

“The Cabinet Secretary issued an order, but we haven’t seen the desired response. We have tried persuasion and diplomatic approaches in vain. The Regional Commissioner is on the ground negotiating on our behalf, but nothing positive seems forthcoming. This is a matter we are now taking very seriously,” he said.

The PS also questioned local leaders’ commitment to peace efforts in Laikipia and neighboring counties.

He regretted that the area leaders have previously frustrated peace efforts and warned that the Government will implement necessary decisions to be arrived at in Saturday’s meeting even if they are unpopular with the political class.

So far close to ten people have been killed in the area, and a dozen others injured in the past two months alone.
Kibicho was speaking in Kirinyaga County after inspecting ongoing works at Wanguru stadium which will host this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in expanding the dais, installation of an irrigation system, and construction of terraces at the stadium ahead of the October 20th celebrations.

Civil works are in high gear at the facility, and the National Celebrations Steering Committee is confident the venue will be ready in time for the event.

“Only a few people knew this stadium until recently when we begun undertaking these construction works. Our goal is to make the day successful and leave Kirinyaga County with a working stadium,” he said.

So far, the celebrations have been held in Nakuru, Machakos, Meru, Nyeri, Kakamega, Mombasa, Narok, and Kisii in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive that counties host two of the three national holidays on a rotational basis.

The move was also intended to enhance national integration and showcase the investment opportunities available at the counties to national and international attention.

The team of PSs had earlier inspected the rehabilitation of Kirinyaga County Headquarters where the County Commissioner’s official residence and a State Lodge will be located.