By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
The Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has finally broken his silence over the wave of insecurity in the North Rift region and some parts of North Easter.
IG Koome has been under from a section of Kenya Kwanza politicians, some of whom recently demanded for his resignation.
“There is an individual we appointed to work as police IG called Koome, where did he go? How can you be Inspector General of Police and Kenyans are being killed and maimed every day? He should be speaking from Kerio Valley or resign,” said Senate leader of the majority Aaron Cheruiyot.
But in a statement on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, the police boss said: “The current resurgence of banditry that we are witnessing in Baringo, Isiolo and Meru Counties this year will neither be condoned by the government nor law-abiding citizens of Baringo, Meru, Isiolo and indeed, the entire North Rift region.”
He went further to point out that aside from the Chemolingot Multi-Agency Operation Centre, the National Police Service has also established a multi-agency centre in Isiolo, Meru, Laikipia and Samburu.
Moreover, new additional sophisticated equipment had also been provided as well as the establishment of police units in the affected areas.
According to the Police IG, the latest moves seek to beef up the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift.
“The military and National Police Reservists continue to support the National Police Service with KDF having established additional camps in Nolkera and Kurkur along the Malaso belt,” IG Koome said.
For the last over a year, there has been an ongoing operation that was aimed at curbing banditry and highway robbery.
Towards the end of 2023, the Ministry of Interior said it had curbed the vice up to 70 per cent.
However, at the turn of this year, there has been a series of bandit attacks that has left leaders and other players in the security sector questioning the effectiveness of the operation.
But with some leaders calling for his exit, Koome remains firm that the police are willing to fight banditry to an end.
“My message to the bandits is one: stop or face the full force of the law,” the police boss said.
“As a service, we remain committed to ensuring that we protect life and property, ensure that normalcy returns to the North Rift region,” he added.