President William Ruto has ordered security agencies to firmly deal with cattle rustlers that have been causing a menace in several counties in the country.
This is after 8 police officers, a local chief and two civilians including Ekuru Aukot’s sister were killed when bandits raided Turkana East and stole an unknown number of cattle on Saturday.
“After receiving a comprehensive report on the Turkana/Pokot incident that led to 10 security/administration officers losing their lives, I have instructed security agencies to deal firmly, decisively and conclusively with those involved. Cattle rustling will stop na sio tafadhali,” the president said on his social media pages.
A netizen however reminded him what he had said in the presidential debate about the matter.
“Sorry to all those affected. During the presidential debate you said cattle rustling /bandits were state sponsored to fight you politically,” read the comment.
During the debate, president Ruto said that the government was to blame for the series of banditry attacks witnessed in Pokot, Samburu, Laikipia, Kerio among other areas.
According to him, the previous government withdrew the police reserves from the affected areas in an attempt to punish him because it was his idea to have police reserves in the regions, yet the Saturday’s attack happened when he is in office.
“The situation was under control but when we came into the handshake arrangement, a false narrative was ruled out that all these national police reserves in Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, West Pokot were actually a militia that William Ruto would use at some point and all the national police reserves were withdrawn, a very reckless act, and with the withdrawal of the police reserves, the situation went South,” Ruto stated.
He however said that his government will do whatever it takes to ensure that security is restored in the areas.
“Even if it means bringing in the military and military installations to support police in this areas,” he said then
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