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Baringo, Kenya - Top security officers on Thursday visited parts of Baringo County, where six people were killed and several others injured in a series of bandit attacks earlier this week.
The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Francis Ogolla and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, accompanied by other senior security officials, toured the North Rift Region to assess the security situation and oversee the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu, which aims to restore peace and stability in the area.
The security chiefs visited the Multi-Agency Command Centre, where they received briefings from the officers on the ground, and Kolowa Primary School, where they interacted with the local residents and assured them of the government's commitment to protect them from the bandits.
Gen Ogolla said the operation, which involves the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service, the Kenya Wildlife Service and the National Intelligence Service, had made significant progress in flushing out the bandits and recovering illegal firearms.
He urged the residents to cooperate with the security agencies and report any suspicious activities or individuals to the authorities.
He also warned the bandits to surrender or face the full force of the law.
"We are here to ensure that the people of Baringo and the neighbouring counties can live in peace and harmony. We will not tolerate any acts of violence or lawlessness. We are appealing to the bandits to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue. If they do not, we will deal with them decisively," he said.
IG Koome echoed Gen Ogolla's sentiments and said the police were working closely with the local leaders and elders to resolve the underlying issues that fuel the banditry menace.
He said the police had intensified patrols and intelligence gathering in the region and urged the public to support them in their efforts.
He also cautioned the politicians and other influential figures against inciting the communities or interfering with the operation.
"We are here to serve and protect the people, not to harm them. We are asking for your cooperation and support. Please do not listen to those who want to divide you or instigate violence. We are all Kenyans and we should live together as brothers and sisters," he said.
The security chiefs' visit came after a spate of attacks by armed bandits, who raided several villages in Baringo South and Baringo North sub-counties on Monday and Tuesday, killing six people, including a Kenya Police Reservist, and injuring several others.
The bandits also torched houses, looted livestock and destroyed crops, leaving behind a trail of destruction and displacement.
The attacks sparked outrage and condemnation from the local leaders and residents, who accused the government of failing to protect them and demanded urgent action.
Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis, who met with the security chiefs on Thursday, said he was hopeful that the operation would restore calm and security in the region.
He said his administration was working with the national government and other partners to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected families and facilitate their return to their homes.
He also called for dialogue and reconciliation among the warring communities, saying that violence was not a solution to their problems.
"We are grateful to the security chiefs for their visit and their assurance of support. We hope that this operation will end the banditry problem once and for all. We also appeal to our people to embrace peace and coexistence. We cannot afford to lose more lives or property to senseless violence. Let us talk to each other and find lasting solutions to our issues," he said.
