For families living in parts of Kenya's North Rift and northern frontier counties, insecurity has become a way of life. A parent sending a child to school must worry about the journey ahead, while a pastoralist moving livestock in search of pasture faces the possibility of an attack. The consequences of these attacks are far-reaching, with families losing loved ones, livestock, and homes. Children have had their education interrupted, businesses have struggled to operate, and communities that once depended on shared grazing lands and water sources have found themselves divided by suspicion and conflict.
The Kenyan government has launched Operation Maliza Uhalifu in February 2023, alongside disarmament efforts including Operation Rudisha Bunduki, to address the issue of banditry. These operations have led to the recovery of more than 2,600 illegal firearms and over 17,000 head of livestock. Interior PS Dr. Raymond Omollo, chair of the National Cybersecurity Agency, noted that the report comes at a pivotal moment following Parliament's approval of the agency, which will enhance coordination, protection of critical information infrastructure, and response to evolving cyber threats.
The persistence of banditry reveals a challenge that has confronted successive security interventions. Raids may be disrupted, stolen livestock recovered, and illegal firearms seized, yet violence can return when the conditions sustaining it remain unresolved. Criminal networks continue to profit from livestock theft, competition over water and pasture fuels tensions, and longstanding grievances deepen mistrust between communities. To break this cycle, the government must pursue livestock theft beyond the scene of an attack and bring those who finance raids, organise criminal activity, or knowingly trade in stolen animals to justice.
Security operations must also create the conditions for communities to reconnect with the services and economic opportunities that insecurity has disrupted. The government has spent more than KES 4.2 billion on security roads and infrastructure, with over 520 kilometres of roads built or improved. These investments carry practical significance for communities that have lived with restricted movement. A farmer needs a reliable route to market, a trader needs to reach customers and suppliers, and a parent needs to know that a sick child can reach a health facility safely.
In addition to infrastructure development, the government is working to restore essential services such as education and healthcare. At Ngarachi Comprehensive School in Laikipia, classrooms have been rehabilitated by Kenya Defence Forces engineers and their partners. For children whose education has been affected by insecurity, a functioning classroom represents an opportunity to learn and progress alongside their peers. The same applies to health facilities that need staff and medicines, water systems that require maintenance, and public services that must reach communities previously cut off by insecurity.
A coordinated development approach is being implemented to ensure that security gains are supported by functioning services, economic opportunities, and investments that respond to the needs identified by communities themselves. The people who live in these areas must remain central to that process, as they understand the grazing routes, water points shared between communities, and local disputes that can escalate into violence. Their knowledge is essential to preventing conflict before it occurs.
Rebuilding trust between security agencies and local communities is equally important. Security operations must remain firm, intelligence-led, professional, and lawful, protecting civilians and respecting their dignity. Allegations of abuse must be investigated through appropriate accountability mechanisms. Communities are better able to cooperate with security agencies when they have confidence that their concerns will be heard and their rights respected. The return of calm marks the beginning of a longer recovery for families who have lost relatives, homes, or livelihoods.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has recovered over 2,600 illegal firearms and 17,000 head of livestock through its operations.
- The government has invested KES 4.2 billion in security roads and infrastructure.
- A coordinated development approach is being implemented to support security gains with functioning services and economic opportunities.
