Special operation to flush out bandits from 700-acre Mukokodo forest in Laikipia
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja Kirocho (left), Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen (centre) and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo at Kenya School of Government in Nairobi on March 26, 2025.
A special operation is underway to flush out bandits hiding in the 700-acre Mukokodo forest in Laikipia and address the deteriorating security situation in neighbouring counties.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said on Thursday that a second Operation Maliza Uhalifu (OMU) will cover Samburu, Laikipia, Isiolo and parts of Meru counties. Other counties targeted by the operation include Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo/Marakwet and Baringo counties. It will have its command centre in Kirimon.
The unit's first operations centre will be in Chemalingot.
Mr Murkomen said the operation will focus on restoring peace by getting rid of criminals who have antagonised the residents.
“We still have a problem in Mukokodo Forest, parts of Samburu East and Maralal. We are enhancing our operations to restore peace. We are carrying out a one-off operation to flush out the criminals. OMU 2 will have its commander and will deal with emerging security trends that spill over to neighbouring counties,” he said.
The operation will be conducted jointly with officers from the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), NPRs and Rangers will also be involved in the operation.
Mr Murkomen was accompanied by Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja, Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Lagat, senior commanders, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner and top security officials from Samburu, Laikipia, Marsabit, Meru and Isiolo counties.
Samburu, along with neighbouring Baringo, Laikipia and Turkana counties, has long struggled with armed conflict fuelled by cattle rustling and competition for scarce pasture.
The formation of the group comes amid a wave of attacks in the region that have left several people dead and others injured. On March 11, at least six people were shot dead and eight others seriously injured during a cattle raid in Baragoi, Samburu County.
In February this year, two people were shot dead and six others, including a police officer, sustained gunshot wounds after unidentified gunmen ambushed a bus carrying 60 passengers at Mbukoi on the Maralal-Baragoi road in Samburu.
This is the second time a unit has been deployed to address the deteriorating security situation.
Early last year, then Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki (now Deputy President) made a similar announcement when he declared the forest "disturbed and dangerous" and deployed a multi-agency security team, including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), to restore peace and security.
Mr Murkomen said the government would deploy surveillance tools and expressed confidence that the unit would deal with the deteriorating security situation.
“Operation Maliza Uhalifu has done tremendous work and commendable progress. Peace and normalcy has been restored in many areas and economic activities have resumed. We are also investing in aerial surveillance technology, night vision equipment, offensive and protective equipment,” he added.