By Peter Ochieng
Operation Maliza Uhalifu (end crime) launched by the government a year ago has been lauded for improving the security situation in Turkana county.
Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki, speaking in Lodwar on Thursday said the multi agency operation has silenced guns in the county, which has long been associated with banditry and cattle rustling.
He said residents along the Lodwar – Kitale highway have been the biggest beneficiaries of the operation.
“The recruitment, training and deployment of National Police Reservists (NPRs) has significantly augmented the efforts of the formed up units of the security agencies and resulted to normalcy on the Kitale-Lodwar Highway and several other areas within Turkana County that were experiencing insecurity,” he noted.
Kindiki admitted that the government still has a lot to do in Turkana county, so as to ensure restoration of peace and security.
“However, occasional attacks in the areas contiguous to the Turkana-West Pokot border and at a few points near Kenya’s border with Uganda and South Sudan remains an outstanding assignment which the government aims at addressing.”
Even as Kindiki expresses confidence in the Operation Maliza Uhalifu in Turkana, Kenyans in other areas such as Baringo and West Pokot are still facing challenges of insecurity, occassioned by cattle rustling and banditry.
While in Tana River on Wednesday, the CS said the County faces a number of security challenges, including the threat of terrorism, inter-communal conflicts, and criminal gangs in the Bangale-Madogo areas.
He directed the county security and intelligence team to develop and implement a plan for addressing the challenges comprehensively.
The CS spoke when he held a State of the county security appraisal forum, with all the heads of security agencies at the county.
They agreed on the targets to be met and the reporting requirements.
