Kenya's President William Ruto has
taken his biggest security decision on the domestic front since taking office
about five months ago by ordering the military to join police in tackling
bandits and cattle rustlers in a restive northern region.
Attempts by previous
administrations to disarm the heavily-armed bandits operating with impunity in
Turkana county have failed.
The recent killing of 16 police
officers by the bandits proves how challenging the operation will be.
At the centre of the attacks is the
lucrative meat trade. Locals rely on it for their livelihood.
Thousands of cattle are stolen
every month and driven hundreds of kilometres away for slaughter for sale in
the local or international market.
“The meat you eat on your plates in
Nakuru and Nairobi, 70% of it is from these criminal activities. The bandits
are paid a paltry Sh7,000 ($55; £45) per head, with the same being sold for up
to Sh100,000 ($800),” Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, who previously
served in the region as a top government officer, said.
Ethnic rivalry instigated by
politicians and competition for natural resources are also factors behind the
banditry.
Analysts say that to resolve the
security challenge, the government should prioritise dialogue, and improve the
economic well-being of communities.
Richard Kagoe || BBC News, Nairobi
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