Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has announced that, under his leadership, incidents of banditry have notably decreased this year.
"The incidents of banditry and its debilitating effects on the people of the Northern Rift Valley Region have been contained 70 percent," he said.
The CS was speaking while in Baringo where he spent his Boxing Day inspecting progress on the establishment of new security facilities.
Kindiki also shared a Boxing Day meal with officers serving in the frontline at Karanga Joto, at the border of Baringo North and Tiaty subcounties in Baringo..
The CS also distributed Christmas season celebrations food items for Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit camps in Ngaratuko, Kagir, and Loruk and for Loruk Police Station, Yatya Police Post and local National Police Reservists.
Regional, county and subcounty heads of security agencies and Unit Field Commanders were also present.
Going further, the CS commended the security officers for remaining firm and fighting bandits.
"I want to thank you all our officers for living up to your oath of office and diligently facing the criminal elements and bandits,who for years have terrorised innocent residents of Northern Rift Valley and made their lives difficult," Kindiki said.
"There is no greater sacrifice than what you are doing to keep our country safe."
Leveraging insights gained thus far, the Interior boss underscored the government's commitment to eliminating the scourge of banditry and dismantling its political, cultural, and commercial networks.
Kindiki affirmed that 2024 will be a pivotal year, marked by an escalation of efforts in the ongoing war against banditry.
"2024 will be the year of sustaining and upscaling the war on banditry. We will build on the successes and gains of 2023," he said.
"We have covered at least 70 percent in this war and the remaining 30 per cent in a few parts of Samburu East, Samburu West, Isiolo and Turkana."
Kindiki noted that the government is closing in on the criminals hiding there and orchestrating attacks in isolated areas.
He added the suppression of bandit terror will give way to opening up of the Northern Rift Valley region through social amenities, economic infrastructure and durable peace-building programs spearheaded by the Government but involving non-governmental stakeholders.