LAIKIPIA,Kenya, Sep, 4 – The National Security Advisory Council (NSAC) is holding a series of meeting today in order to review the security situation in Laikipia County that has witnessed close to 10 deaths allegedly at the hands of marauding bandits in the area.
The breaking point, weeks after the government called for a ceasefire and the surrender of illegal firearms came Thursday evening after a standard 8 pupil at Mirango Primary School sustained gunshot wounds on the leg after an unknown number of armed bandits descended on her home at Mirango village,firing indiscriminately.
The incident occurred at around 7pm Thursday.
The victim’s father,Simon Gakuru says her daughter is in stable condition at the Sipili Nursing home.
During the series of attacks, 31-year-old,Cyrus Gataka was shot dead after bandits raided his home in Ngare Naro village home.
Days earlier, a farmhand was also shot dead just a few kilometers in Ratia farm.
On Friday 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 latest killing as the breaking point of the government’s patience.
“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.
Kibicho 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.
Area leaders however blamed police for not taking adequate measures to restore normalcy and apprehended suspect bandits.
Ol Moran area is among seven others gazetted by government and classified as dangerous and unsafe.
Areas under government surveillance include: the Laikipia Nature Conservancy owned by conservationist Kuki Gullman in Laikipia West, government-owned ranches; ADC Mutara ranch in Laikipia West and 80,000 – acre Kilmon farm, Mugie ranch, Loisaba and Kirimon Nature National Reserve in Laikipia North.
Recently in meeting with Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya leaders faulted the government’s decision to withdrawn National Police Reservists saying armed bandits took advantage of the vacuum to terrorize residents.
Natembeya however announced plans by the government to redeploy the police reservists in a bid to reinforce the security team already running operation on the ground particularly in areas classified as volatile.
“The motives of the armed criminals is to displace resident from their land..the government will however not allow this,” said Natembeya.
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