Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki on Sunday, March 12, announced the arrest of a spiritual leader believed to be providing prophetic support to the bandits during their operations.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, Kindiki affirmed that the clergyman was nabbed in a sting operation.
In addition, the Interior CS pointed out that he would be circulating the names and photographs of the perpetrators involved in the banditry activities.
He added that the government shall also give out monetary rewards in exchange for information to capture the bandits.
“Already, one of them, a spiritual leader who has been providing prophetic support to the bandits has been apprehended,” the statement read.
“The Government shall offer significant monetary rewards to any member(s) of the public who give us information that leads to the successful arrest of these dangerous elements.”
Kindiki said police have identified a number of leaders in charge of bandits and threatened to mention their names.
“In a short while, we shall be circulating the names and photographs of these desk pillars of the evil network that is banditry,” the CS said.
He said that bandits have continued to kill innocent civilians in North Rift regions despite warnings from the government.
Kindiki said bandits have attempted to attack security officers and their equipment.
“By trying to demonstrate that they can disrupt an ongoing operation and that they can withstand our firepower, these thugs have invited the government to take the war to their hideouts in remote forests, caves, ravines, gorges and escarpments,” he said.
The CS ordered residents living in areas prone to banditry to vacate by Monday, March 13.
He said security agencies have been undertaking intelligence gathering to establish the nature bandits are using to operate.
The second tactic would be to seize the weapons and ammunition from the criminals, either by voluntary surrender or by force.
He reiterated the government’s efforts in neutralizing the bandits and restoring peace in the North Rift regions.
“I assure the people of Kenya that we shall neutralize every bandit who defies the Government and engages in the atrocious killing, maiming and displacement of people from their homes,” he noted.
The Interior CS added that over 135 Kenyans including 20 security officers fell victim to the bandits in the last seven months.
