CS Matiang'i Creates New Sub-County in Laikipia

Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i has announced new government measures intended to curb the rising insecurity in Laikipia County.

In a gazette notice dated September 9, 2021, the Ministry of Interior created a new administrative unit in the county to enable the government to tame the unrest in the region.

"In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 14 (1) and (3) of the National Co-ordination Act 2013, and in an effort to enhance the coordination of functions of the National Government, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Co-ordination of National Government establishes the following administrative unit as service delivery coordination unit; Kirima Headquarters, Ol Moran," the gazette notice read.

The move comes amid the rising security tension in the areas surrounding the Laikipia Nature Conservancy and its environs which has seen several people killed, among them four police officers.

Yesterday, a group of leaders from the Mount Kenya region appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to deploy the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the region.

Led by Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, they urged the Head of State to take decisive action over the violence in Laikipia.

“I am calling on our President who is also the Commander-in-Chief to deploy the Kenya Defence Forces in Laikipia to stop the senseless killings and displacement of the population… Let us deploy the military in Laikipia as early as tomorrow morning,” a statement issued by the leaders read in part.

The leaders further noted that instead of sending troops to other countries like Somalia, those soldiers should be used to restore law and order back at home.

They urged President Kenyatta to personally take lead on the issue and ensure those orchestrating the violence are flashed out.

“We ask our President to take personal charge of the situation to have the bandits flushed out, normalcy restored and those displaced assisted to rebuild their lives. It is purely nonsensical to send out troops to assist in Somalia when our people are being killed with impunity and Government officials admit our police are helpless,” the leaders opined.

So far two politicians have been arrested in relation to the unrest in Laikipia, Tiaty MP William Kamket and former Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel.