State Opens More Security Camps in Baringo to Tame Banditry
The national government has established additional security camps in the volatile parts of Baringo County as part of a renewed offensive to tame persistent banditry. The new camps, strategically located in remote and previously inaccessible areas, are intended to provide a permanent security presence that will deny bandits safe havens and facilitate rapid response to attacks. The move signals a shift from temporary mobile operations to a more entrenched, long-term security strategy.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who presided over the opening, stated that the camps will host a multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Police, the Administration Police, and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). The government is also concurrently building new access roads to improve the mobility of security personnel in the rugged terrain, which has long been used by criminals to evade capture.
Local leaders and residents have welcomed the development, expressing hope that it will finally bring an end to decades of insecurity that have disrupted livelihoods and education. The government has warned that the security operation will be relentless and that anyone found with illegal firearms will face the full force of the law. The establishment of these camps is a central pillar of the state’s plan to dismantle the infrastructure of banditry and restore lasting peace in the North Rift region.