Is This A Solution To Regular Insecurity In Laikipia, Kerio Valley?

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has called on the National Government to focus on coming up with long-term solutions to security challenges that several areas in the Rift Valley region are facing.

Is This A Solution To Regular Insecurity In Laikipia, Kerio Valley?
Photo Source: Quartz

Mandago, in response to recent banditry attacks in Laikipia, noted that the recurrence of insecurity in the region is as a result of the Government resorting to short-term solutions.

In a media briefing in Eldoret town, the Governor also expressed the need for the Ministry of Interior to look at ways in which it will involve counties in addressing the security issues.

"There is no way the ministry can run security without involving counties as locals have simple solutions to some of these challenges," he noted.

"Going forward, counties must have a role in security matters. This is an issue that would have been addressed with the County Police Oversight Authority that was shelved and never operationalized," added the County boss.

According to Mandago, some of the areas the Government needs to focus on when addressing insecurity are rolling out irrigation projects in the volatile areas, building more schools, and opening up the roads.

“These are the recommendation we gave the Government and could easily find a solution to the security issue but they have never been implemented," he noted.

The Governor who is the chair of the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) further called on stern action to be taken against any politician that will be found to have been involved in inciting locals against each other Laikipia.

Similar sentiments were shared by Soy MP Caleb Kositany who challenged Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and Rift Valley regional coordinator to stop treating security matters casually.

"As the Governor has noted, we need to look at lasting solutions with a focus being on the principle that prevention is better than cure," said Kositany.

The MP also asked locals in Laikipia to maintain peace and also appealed to the bandits to retreat from carrying out the attacks against innocent Kenyans.