Soldiers now take over disarmament

The military has formally taken over disarmament in the volatile Baringo and Turkana counties.

Reports indicate Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers have killed five suspected bandits by hurling explosives at their hideouts.

Locals are said to have taken heed of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s order to surrender firearms the AP officers killed in a banditry attack last weekend had as seven firearms have so far been surrendered.

The guns were recovered at Kabau, Naudo and Silale after Pokot elders convinced the morans hiding in the bush to give them up and also agree to peace talks.

For fear of arrest, the herders are said to be dropping the guns at strategic points at night before alerting the elders to collect them.

Dozens of General Service Unit, Administration Police and regular police officers were seen in the area to offer support to KDF troops in the disarmament.

President Kenyatta, during his tour of the area, ordered locals to identify those behind the killing of the officers.

The President also wanted them to surrender the slain policemen’s uniforms along with their firearms.

GAINED MOMENTUM

KDF helicopters conducted aerial surveillance as ground troops patrolled.

There were reports that residents had started fleeing as the operation gained momentum.

The soldiers could be seen patrolling the area in Armoured Personnel Carriers with helicopters on standby.

Tiaty sub-county Commissioner Daniel Kurui confirmed that KDF had taken over the disarmament.

“This is a military operation and it is beyond my jurisdiction,” Mr Kurui said.

“The soldiers have already set up an operation base at Kapedo and I cannot comment much on it now,” he told the Nation.

Kapendo, where KDF have set up their base, is now a no-gone zone to both the public and the media.

On Tuesday, Mr Kurui held a closed-door meeting with senior KDF officers on the operation.

The slain officers were on a mission to recover a vehicle which went missing in another botched operation last week.

There has been concern that the government was sending inexperienced officers to the trouble zones.