The Kenyan government has made significant recoveries in its efforts to combat banditry and armed militia violence in the North Rift region. Through Operation Maliza Uhalifu, launched in February 2023, and the subsequent disarmament initiative, Operation Rudisha Bunduki, more than 2,600 illegal firearms and 17,000 livestock have been recovered since 2023. These operations are part of a broader campaign to address armed banditry, restore security, and revive economic activities in areas affected by prolonged violence.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo stated that the recoveries were a result of multi-agency security and peacebuilding efforts. He noted that insecurity had disrupted education, trade, livestock farming, and access to essential services in the region. The government's response aims to extend beyond security deployments to address the social and economic conditions contributing to recurring conflicts. Omollo emphasized the importance of community participation in preventing attacks, reporting threats, and resolving disputes.
In addition to the recoveries, the government has invested more than Sh4.2 billion in security roads and related infrastructure. This investment has supported the construction and improvement of over 520 kilometers of roads in affected areas. The projects aim to improve access to markets, healthcare facilities, and other essential services while supporting economic activities in communities that have experienced prolonged insecurity.
The government has also undertaken initiatives to restore essential services, such as education. For example, Kenya Defence Forces engineers and their partners rehabilitated classrooms at Ngarachi Comprehensive School in Laikipia. Omollo stressed that security measures must be accompanied by functioning schools, health facilities, and water systems to ensure communities benefit from improved stability.
Omollo called for stronger community involvement in preventing attacks and resolving disputes, particularly those related to access to grazing land and water sources. He identified Nyumba Kumi structures, National Government Administration Officers, and local security teams as crucial channels for intelligence gathering and early intervention. The government also plans to strengthen action against criminal networks involved in livestock theft.
The government is committed to ensuring accountability in security operations, with Omollo stating that law enforcement agencies must respect citizens' rights and investigate allegations of misconduct. He emphasized that lasting peace would require addressing grievances between neighboring communities, supporting families affected by violence, and expanding economic opportunities for young people.
The effectiveness of the interventions will be assessed through improvements in the daily lives of residents, including uninterrupted access to education, safer livestock movement, and the ability of businesses to operate without attacks. Omollo noted that the true measure of success would be found in the lives people are finally able to lead, not merely in the number of firearms recovered or roads constructed. The government's long-term objective is to enable communities in banditry-affected areas to pursue economic activities, access essential services, and rebuild relations without the threat of renewed violence.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has recovered over 2,600 illegal firearms and 17,000 livestock through security operations in the North Rift region since 2023.
- The government has invested Sh4.2 billion in security roads and infrastructure to improve access to essential services and support economic activities.
- The government aims to sustain security gains and enable communities to pursue economic activities, access essential services, and rebuild relations without the threat of renewed violence.
