Matiangi Sets New Police Bases in Troubled Laikipia
From interior.go.ke and Twitter/@InteriorKE
The Government has deployed more police officers and created new administrative units to shore up security in Laikipia County.
Interior Cabiney Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi said an entire police division will be stationed at the newly-gazetted Kirima division and two additional police stations established in the area that is prone to bandit attacks.
The CS who was speaking at Ol Moran trading center that is hosting families uprooted by the attacks also announced a training base for elite police officers will be established in the area and more police reservists hired and armed.
“It is our cardinal responsibility to take care of you and your property. This is not a short- term exercise, but a sustained operation. We will triple the number of officers and stay here until we conclusively sort out this issue,” he said.
Dr Matiangi directed the reopening of schools that have closed due to insecurity beginning Monday and assured residents enough police officers will be deployed to ensure safety.
He assured displaced families that the government will help them return to their farms and to rebuild house razed down by bandits.
As an immediate relief, the CS donated assorted foodstuffs, bedding and iron sheets to the more than 150 affected families.
To expedite land adjudication and issuance of title deeds to residents, the CS said officials from the Ministry of Lands will camp in the area in coming days.
He said, “You have a right to live and own property anywhere in the Republic of Kenya. This is our country. Whoever thinks they can drive you out has simply underestimated the power of the government. No Kenyan will be displaced due to the balkanization we witness when approaching the elections. We are not short of means. We are resolute as government, and among the strategies we are deploying is issuance of title deeds.”
Relevant ministries and state agencies will also be tasked with immediate review on the future of the management of the Laikipia Nature Conservancy that has been a theatre of bloody clashes between invaders and area residents.
Meanwhile, the government is actively pursuing the instigators, among them key political leaders who have been funding the clashes. The CS put on notice politicians inciting violence and said more of them will be arrested.
“I want to be honest with our political leaders. You are not going to use the lives of our people as collateral. We understand the kind of balkanization towards elections. We know what you plan and the people you fraternize with. We are coming for you,” he said.
More National Police Reservists (NPRs) and Kenya Police Reservists (KPRs) will be incorporated into subsequent security operations.
