Former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Brigadier Ahmed Mohammed urged the state to reconsider its strategy in fighting bandits in the six affected counties, including Turkana.
While appearing on Citizen TV on Wednesday, February 15, Mohammed argued that the curfew would be of little help in operation.
He explained that most armed bandits had already retreated as soon as the operation was ordered since none of the locals would face the military.
“For this specific operation, it started yesterday and ended yesterday. I can assure you it is over in the essence that no locals will take on security forces. They will go back to their normal operations.
“Even the curfew will not help very much because these guys are organised and planned for specific moments but they have achieved it now, have gone back and you will not find them. Accusing the young boys and men out there will not help right now,” the former Brigadier explained.
Instead, the former soldier challenged the state to kick off a proper campaign strategy to engage locals from the area.
He further advocated for the state to hold leaders accountable, hinting that some of the leaders might be the forces fueling the attacks that have claimed civilian and police officers’ lives alike.
“The key thing is to go now and start what I call a proper campaign strategy that is long-lasting to address this situation. We prepare properly to engage the people, develop matters, address issues, talk to leaders we know, and, where necessary, hold them accountable for what will happen in the future.
“I assure you, we have all the intelligence and we know who is doing this. I am going back to the issue of impunity, please don’t spare them,” he advised.
Mohammed drew on his experience during the Mt Elgon operation, where the heat was turned against the leaders he says were silenced in the end and peace restored.
“In Mt Kenya, we succeeded because the Ministry was going in free hand. Also the leaders, we dealt with them and they went quiet and came up very quiet after that,” he explained.
His sentiments echoed those of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, who had, a day earlier, reiterated that leaders played a role in backing the bandits.
In a tell-all TV interview, the Governor, who had served as the Rift Valley Regional Commander before calling it quits to join politics, blamed the banditry on the meat’s demand and supply forces in Nairobi that eventually benefited the leaders who worked alongside the bandits.
“Security agencies being deployed in the area should know that they are fighting hardened criminals who know combat better than Al Shabaab extremists. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers should use drones to pinpoint where the bandits are and move to contain them,” Natembeya stated.
On Monday, February 13, Ruto directed the military – under the direction of Interior CS Kithure Kindiki – to launch an operation aimed at flashing out the bandits.
The directive came after four officers were killed following a shootout with the bandits.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE