Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has termed the security situation in areas in Northern Kenya gazetted as disturbed as "greatly improved."
Appearing before the National Administration and Internal Security Committee of the National Assembly, the CS said 78 per cent of livestock have been recovered and 200 firearms voluntarily surrendered to the government.
"We have delayed forceful disarmament for strategic reasons but we are getting there," he stated.
Kindiki announced that phase two of the operation to restore security in the areas starts in September.
"We are processing necessary Cabinet papers in readiness for phase two. We will be seeking Cabinet approval to embark on education programmes, agriculture projects and construction of peace schools," he added.
He said the government has recruited 2,057 police reservists and trained 1,354 officers.
Kindiki also said not all areas in the six counties are disturbed.
"Areas gazetted as disturbed are specific places. The areas are gorges, caves and such like places," he explained.
Conflict and insecurity are prevalent in northern Kenya. In recent months, cases of bandit attacks in the region have left villages terrorised and led to several deaths.
Instances of conflict and insecurity range from attacks by armed bandits and cattle rustlers to community disputes over resources and terrorism.
The region covers about 60 per cent of Kenya's geographical territory.
Isiolo, Marsabit, Laikipia, Samburu, Garissa, Turkana, Baringo, Wajir and Tana River are some of the areas hit hard by insecurity.
For six decades, people in these regions had borne the brunt of insecurity.
