Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has issued a stern warning against criminals who killed a senior chief in Laikipia county.
The chief, Jacob Leyiangere, was shot dead at his home on the evening of Sunday, December 4, 2022.
The CS who was speaking at the slain chief’s home in Tiamamut village, Laikipia County on Monday, December 5, 2022, directed the specialized police units deployed in the area to curb insecurity in the region. He also asked officers to discharge their duties from their various fields.
“You have no choice but to deliver as per the expectations and if you need any resources, be it financial or otherwise, contact my office. From now on, I want to see you working in the field but not spend days in the office,” the CS stated.
While issuing the directive, the CS confirmed that three suspects involved in the murder of the chief had already been arrested.
“Interior CS Kindiki Kithure says three suspects in the murder of Senior Chief Jacob Leyiangere in Laikipia County have been arrested and the killer weapon recovered,” he said.
Further, the CS maintained that the Ruto-led administration was fully committed to weeding out bandits, criminal gangs and cattle rustlers disrupting the peace.
“The requisite resources for the security teams in the affected zones have been mobilized including the readying of 360 National Police Reservists Present too was the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Maalim Mohammed and the county security team,” he stated.
On the evening of Sunday, December 4, two bandits raided the chief’s home in Laikipia County and shot the officer dead before walking out.
Confirming the incident, the county commissioner stated that the bandits ransacked the house before shooting him in the chest killing him on the spot.
Banditry attacks
The banditry-prone North Rift region has occasionally been marred by banditry attacks and cattle rustlers disrupting peace and unity in the region.
Most parts of the North Rift have not known peace for a long time with the worst hit being Baringo, Turkana and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties where many residents have been killed and others displaced from their homes.
At least 170 people, among them security personnel, have been killed by bandits and thousands have been displaced in the past year alone.
Many residents who spoke to K24 Digital narrated how banditry has wholly shattered their dreams. They called on the Kenya Kwanza Government to fulfil its pledge to restore calm in the region.
“Our people have nothing to celebrate as the festive season starts. This is a season of untold suffering at the hands of armed bandits. The government should deal with this menace once and for all,” Richard Chepchomei, an elder from the bandit-hit Bartabwa in Baringo North sub-county said.
