The National Police Service has deployed a multi-agency security team to recover stolen livestock and mop up illegal firearms amid rising banditry in Meru County and neighbouring counties.
In a statement to the media, National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said incidents of banditry and cattle rustling have caused widespread suffering in parts of Meru, resulting in loss of life and livestock.
Mr Nyaga said the operation also aims to arrest bandits and their financiers in order to restore normalcy in Meru and neighbouring counties.
“The targeted areas are Mukogondo Forest in Laikipia, Lantana and Sereolipi in Samburu East, Kipsing and Ngaremara in Isiolo, and all surrounding areas. The large number of personnel is backed by robust air support.”
“Residents in the targeted areas are urged to offer maximum cooperation to security personnel, share intelligence, and help bring banditry and related forms of criminality to an end,” he said.
The police statement comes amid growing disquiet among residents and herders following a series of banditry attacks that have claimed several lives.
According to the Meru Herders Cooperative, more than 11,000 cattle have been stolen over the last four years and over 110 people killed.
Meru North Peace Committee chairman Charles Kamwibua said 11 people have been killed since January and more than 600 cattle have been stolen.
Bandits have grown bolder, striking just hours after Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat led a security meeting in Tigania East earlier this week.
The cattle rustlers are also carrying out attacks in broad daylight, pointing to increased audacity.
“I have received information that the criminals are taunting and threatening to strike after our security meeting. They will face the full force of the GSU team I am leaving behind,” Mr Lagat said.
He added, “We will use the same tactics we applied to end banditry in the North Rift to restore order in Meru. We cannot allow criminals to roam freely and steal property from any part of Kenya. Operations are ongoing in Laikipia and Samburu and will soon extend to Isiolo and Meru. The bandits will feel the heat."
On Thursday night, bandits staged four coordinated attacks, making away with several cattle and killing two herders.
Meru County Police Commander Moses Mutisya said a multi-agency security team responded immediately after the incident was reported and recovered 46 head of cattle.
He said two herders, identified as Jessy Kailikia and Gitonga Kabailo, were killed during the raid in the Mukulubai area.
On Friday, scores of herders relocated from grazing lands in Tigania East to Igembe Central as fears of further raids intensified.
The persistent attacks have sparked protests from leaders, who have threatened to withdraw support for the government unless decisive action is taken.
Governor Isaac Mutuma and Senator Kathuri Murungi on Friday criticised the government for failing to curb cattle rustling.
“The loss of lives and the theft of our cattle are not just criminal; they are unacceptable and must come to an end. We demand immediate and decisive action from the national government to restore security and protect our people,” Mr Mutuma said.
“I have sought leave from the Senate Speaker for 10 days to allow me to look into this menace. I will camp in Meru to ensure the police are active on the ground,” Mr Murungi said.
On Saturday, Meru MPs, led by caucus chairperson Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri), demanded immediate action to end the vice.
“The bandits are operating freely from neighbouring counties of Isiolo, Laikipia and Samburu. This menace has left families without a source of income; many have fled their traditional homes, and mothers and children have been left widowed and fatherless,” he said.
Deployment of specialised operations unit
Mr Rindikiri said Meru leaders have previously made several demands, including the deployment of a specialised operations unit, without success.
“We are now demanding that all stolen animals be returned to their owners. The government should support bereaved families with burial expenses and compensate victims for the loss of their livestock,” the MPs said.
They also want the Ministry of Interior to strengthen cooperation, establish a security buffer zone between Meru and Isiolo, and improve roads in grazing areas.
Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi said more than 10,500 cattle have been stolen over the last three years without any effort to recover them.
“The President should know that we can no longer face the electorate because of the government’s failure. We are afraid of facing our people, who are suffering from frequent attacks,” Mr Aburi said.
Meanwhile, Democracy for the Citizens Party organising secretary Mithika Linturi has initiated a signature drive in preparation for a court petition against the government.
Mr Linturi said the petition will seek to compel the government to provide security and compensate affected residents.
On Saturday, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said the police and the military will deploy heavily in Meru, Isiolo, Samburu, and Laikipia counties to deal with bandits who continue to terrorise residents.
He spoke after he held a closed door meeting with Meru security officers to assure of government commitment to restoring order.
"Security officers are under firm instructions to crush the bandits and recover all the stolen livestock currently hidden in valleys and gorges within Samburu and Isiolo counties," DP Kindiki said.
He said the security formations will comprise the Kenya Police Service and the Kenya Defence Forces and will carry out "the most comprehensive security operation in Kenya’s history to deter further attacks and neutralize all threats."
"Platoons of elite security personnel have been mobilised, new equipment delivered and clear command issued for an all-out war on bandits and recovery of stolen livestock through a multi-agency intelligence- led operation mounted on land and air," Prof Kindiki said.
"The security personnel has been directed to use all the weapons at their disposal to neutralize all threats to life targeting members of the public or law enforcement officers as by law permitted," he added.
Prof Kindiki said he would camp in Meru and Isiolo to supervise the security personnel deployed to fight the bandits.
"Some of the stolen animals are hidden in Sereolipi, Kipsing valley, and Mukogondo forest. The security officers have been ordered to use all their firepower in those hideouts. They should drop bombs to smoke the criminals out," the DP said.
According to Prof Kindiki, the Kenya Kwanza administration is committed to resolving all forms of criminal activity in the country.
"While terrorist attacks were frequent in North Eastern Region and Lamu, maurauding gangs of dangerously armed bandits had run amok, killing, maiming people, and stealing livestock daily in the Kerio Valley, Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Isiolo and Meru Counties.
Great strides have been made during the last three years to crush both the terrorist and bandit networks. Nearly all of these previously volatile areas are now calm for over two years," he said.
