Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that the government is going to launch a security operation in Isiolo County and neighbouring Samburu and Laikipia counties in a bid to curb illegal firearms, ammunition, criminal gangs and all those abetting crime.
On Tuesday, after a security meeting in Isiolo County, Murkomen has confirmed that the security agencies shall also reorganise the security teams on the ground to be able to respond better to threats, open up new security roads and work with other stakeholders to improve the network coverage.
We resolved to immediately launch a security operation in Isiolo County and neighbouring Samburu and Laikipia. The operation targets illegal firearms, ammunition, criminals and those abetting crime. We shall also reorganise the security teams on the ground to be able to respond better to threats, open up new security roads and work with other stakeholders to improve the network coverage,” Murkomen’s statement read in part.
Murkomen, who was a ccompanied by local leaders in the meeting, said that the prolonged drought situation in pastoralist areas has heightened resource conflicts and cattle rustling. He noted that these risks are rolling back the gains the region has made following the implementation of the operation dubbed “Operation Maliza Uhalifu, OMU” and other security interventions.
Murkomen has committed to touring the region to assess the security situation and lay down strategies to ensure peace and normalcy are sustained even as the government deploys other measures to mitigate the impact of the drought.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary has released the statement after convening a meeting of leaders, National Government Officials and top security officials in Isiolo. Murkomen has noted that this is our third day of the security stabilisation tour of the North Rift and Upper Eastern regions.
Recently, fear and panic arose at Mokogodo Forest in Doldol, Laikipia North, after armed bandits made away with over 1,200 goats and 200 cows. The raid was carried out over two consecutive days, forcing hundreds of herders to start migrating with their animals from Doldol towards Nanyuki.
