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Kindiki issues fresh warning in crackdown on banditry in Meru
04th December, 2025 09:21 PM
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has issued a stern warning to armed bandits, saying the government has launched an intensive operation to eliminate them and end cattle rustling in Meru County.
Speaking during an Economic Empowerment Engagement forum in Athwana, Tigania West Constituency, on Thursday, December 4, 2025, the DP said the state had already deployed more specialised security officers and reinforced the National Police Reservists (NPR) to stabilise security in the troubled grazing zones.
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“We are going to fix this problem once and for all; we will deal with them ruthlessly because now we have increased national police reservists and security officers in the area. We will hunt them wherever they are and flush them out,” Kindiki said.
Kindiki’s remarks come amid rising incidences of cattle rustling in the past few days in the Tigania, Buuri and Igembe regions, which led to the killing of three NPR and two herders before escaping with over 200 livestock.
“We have noticed the same criminals are emerging again. Before I left the Ministry of Interior, we had plans to sweep them out. Kenya is our country, and every Kenyan has a right to be protected, as well as their property,” he said.
DP Kindiki, who was responding to a request from several legislators from the area, said he will collaborate with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to stem out the menace and restore peace in the county.
“They are not the first criminals we have faced. We restored peace in Lamu during Al-Shabaab incursions and stabilised the Rift Valley. We will do the same here,” Kindiki warned.
He emphasised that the fight against banditry is the responsibility of the national government and assured residents that he and the Interior Cabinet Secretary would camp in the region until calm is fully restored.
Kindiki used the event to caution local leaders and communities against inflammatory politics, saying the region had recently witnessed a dangerous return of divisive incitement politics.
“We will not allow foolish politics, destruction or insults from people without any agenda. This started two years ago. Politics must be about development, not chaos,” he said.
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The DP also reflected on past political unity in the Mt Kenya region, recalling the overwhelming support leaders such as Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta received, calling on the vote-rich region to support President Ruto’s second term come 2027.
He insisted the community should not destroy its heritage or fight internally, emphasising support for the government to enable pulling resources for developments.
The second in command also confirmed that several longstanding road projects that had stalled were finally being tarmacked and urged locals to rally behind government programmes to attract more development.
“Let us support the government so that we force it to champion more development. We own this government, so do not be misled into thinking you need the opposition to get roads, markets or electricity,” he lamented.
He, however, assured leaders and residents that the government remains firmly committed to the development agenda of the Mt Kenya region, dismissing claims that the region was being sidelined.
“We are fulfilling all the promises we made to the Mt Kenya region and across the country, and we will not be drawn to the retrogressive politics of pride, insults and violence because that is not how we have been brought up,” he added.
He cited the government currently funding multi-billion-shilling projects in the region, among them the tarmacking of the Kirindini–Mikinduri and Kunene–Miomponi roads—two critical corridors expected to unlock agricultural potential and ease access to markets.
During the meeting, the DP also addressed concerns over the prolonged drought affecting parts of Meru North and Tigania, assuring residents that relief supplies would be delivered promptly to cushion vulnerable households.
“We will not let the people suffer; we will support them until the situation eases or normal rainfall patterns resume,” he said.
