Motorists plying Kitale - Lodwar highway to have police escort, says Rift Valley regional boss

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan has said that motorists operating the Kitale - Lodwar highway will now have police escorts from Lami Nyeusi area to Kainuk, which is the focal point of bandit attacks in the area.

This, he said, was as a result of change of tactics noting that the bandits have now resorted to attacking passengers and innocent Kenyans.

Hassan hence urged all motorists plying the route to liaise with security officials to guide them during their journeys.

Speaking in Doldol town after a security meeting with locals on Thursday, Hassan sent a stern warning to bandits living among the communities, also urging the local leadership as well as residents to cooperate with the police in ending the menace currently plaguing six North Rift counties once and for all.

The Regional Commissioner said the government will not relent in pursuing the bandits, expressing confidence that the war will be won eventually.

He pointed out that the ongoing operation in the North Rift will extend to Mukogodo forest to ensure that bandits are flushed out of the entire region.

The visit comes a week after one man was shot dead in Doldol town, Laikipia North, as 17 camels belonging to former Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo were stolen by bandits believed to have come from Isiolo County.

In the attack, 58-year-old Pokisa Leitiko was watching over the camels when a group of over 20 bandits struck, killing him and driving away the animals; police in Nanyuki later said 10 of the camels were recovered.