The Government through the ministry of Interior has reviewed the vacation order to all members of the public in banditry-prone areas in conjunction to the ongoing security operation in Northern Rift Valley region.
In a statement issued Monday evening, some areas have been removed from the previous list while others have been included as the Government believes that bandits have been hiding and using innocent civilians as human shield in those areas.
The areas which were marked but have been excluded are; Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lobokat, Lokoron, the Turkwell Escarpment and Ombollion areas within Turkana and West Pokot Counties.
Members of the public in the excluded regions have been advised to continue with their daily routines, while observing the security measures Gazetted on 13th February 2023 where applicable.
The areas that have been included or added are Ng’elecha Hills and Gorges, Ramacha and Losokoni Caves, Laramoru Gorges, Karau Hills, Noosidan Escarpment, Rugus Caves and the Amaya Gorges at the border of Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu Counties.
Kithure Kindiki, Interior Cabinet Secretary, has issued another 24-hour window period to civilians in the added areas to move out or vacate the areas adding that anyone found in that area would be treated as suspects of armed robbery.
Kithure Kindiki said that any member of the public who will be found in the specified areas in this paragraph after Tuesday 14th March 2023 at 1930 Hrs will be treated as a suspect of armed banditry, or as a suspect who is aiding and abetting banditry, or an accessory after the fact.
On Sunday, the Cabinet Secretary had stated that after the expiry of the ultimatum, the Government would start a new phase (phase two) of the war that aim at flushing out the bandits from caves, forests, gorges and ravines.
