Armoured vehicles arrive in Baragoi to fight rustlers

An armoured vehicle is inspected in Marti yesterday. The vehicles have been deployed to fight cattle rustling. [PHOTO: MICHAEL SAITOTI/STANDARD]

The Government has deployed three armoured personnel carriers to Baragoi, Samburu County.

It follows resolutions reached last month between the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Co-ordination Joseph Nkaissery and local leaders following the killing of nine people.

The armoured vehicles, according to County Security Co-ordination Officer Washington Ajuoga, will survey the hot spots, which include Masikita, Marti and Kambi Nyoka.

RUNAWAY INSECURITY

Five armoured vehicles were to be deployed to the area, according to a ten-resolution based statement read by the Interior CS.

Mr Nkaissery had on February 9 this year summoned all Samburu leaders following runaway insecurity in the area and perennial killings. Tracking bandits is usually difficult due to the rough terrain in the area.

On November 10, 2012, about 50 people, 40 of them police officers and eight police reservists, were killed by bandits in Suguta Valley during a livestock-recovery mission.

Since then, police officers have been slow to respond whenever there is a raid in the area as bandits are believed to have more understanding of the terrain than police officers.