At least ten assorted firearms have been recovered in the ongoing Operation “Ondoa Jangili” in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties.
The operation was launched on February 3 targeting a criminal network operated by remnants of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in the two counties.
Police spokesman Michael Muchiri said Saturday February 22 a total of 14 makeshift camps, believed to have been set up by the criminals, have been destroyed.
“Among the recoveries made were, 10 assorted firearms and ammunition,a variety of firearm holsters, fake currency in US Dollars and Ethiopian Birr,a water bowser lorry, 9 motorcycles, two motor vehicles, sackfuls of cannabis weighing approximately 200 kilos, food items, solar panels, generators, a set of military gear and caps, Oromia literature and propaganda among other items, he said.
He added several individuals have also been arrested, with multiple cases currently pending before the court.
As a result of this ongoing operation, activities such as the proliferation of small arms, illegal mining, human trafficking, cross-border incursions, and kidnappings for ransom have been curtailed, he said.
“This has brought an end to the untold suffering experienced by people living along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.”
The operation started on February 3.
Police said the group has taken advantage of close family and cultural ties between the Borana of Kenya and Oromo of Ethiopia to infiltrate and hide amongst the population and continue committing atrocities causing untold suffering.
He added they will continue with the exercise to pacify the area. No arrests have been made so far.
The operation was launched after both Kenya and Ethiopia accused the OLA of committing crimes in the area.
It also came after President William Ruto last month held talks with Ethiopia’s Director General of the National Intelligence Security Service, Redwan Hussien in the company of Kenya’s Director General of National Intelligence Service Noordin Haji.
The meeting took place at State House in Nairobi and the issue is said to have featured hence the operation.
OLA is an armed opposition group active in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia.
The OLA consists primarily of former armed members of the pre-peace deal with Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) who refused to disarm out of skepticism of the deal, and former youth protestors who grew disillusioned with nonviolent resistance.
Police boss Douglas Kanja said the high-level operation will target criminals conducting illegal operations that pose a serious threat to Kenyan national security.
“These include arms, drug and human trafficking, illegal mining, instigating tribal conflicts and kidnapping for ransom especially in Sololo, Moyale, North Horr, and Merti Sub-counties,” he said.
He assured the local communities in the aforementioned areas of their security while also appealing to them to remain calm and cooperate with the security teams on the ground.
Police want the local populations in these areas to remain calm and fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies by sharing information crucial to the success of this multi-agency operation.
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