Turkana South Member of Parliament (MP) John Namoit Monday protested the order by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki that residents in bandit-prone areas should vacate to allow weeding out of criminals.
The lawmaker claimed that it was not practical to order the residents to vacate without providing a preferred destination.
“I disagree in totality with the order and do ask the CS to explore additional ways that they can use to protect the livelihoods of Kenyans living in these areas,” he said.
“These Kenyans do not have immediate areas of refuge and their properties should be protected instead of ordering them to vacate.”
For instance, Namoit said in his constitution there are residents who have established businesses, thus vacating immediately adversely affects them.
Instead, the MP recommended that the Interiors CS conduct a manual search in the areas marked as breeding grounds for the gangs for easier identification.
He added that the bandit hideouts identified with area elders should be ransacked as the information has already been shared with authorities.
Also, he said that for the sake of negotiations and disarmament, every community should return to its respective areas.
“Past negotiations landed on deaf ears because some communities were residing inside others’ territories,” he said.
The CS Sunday issued a notice ordering people in banditry-prone areas which were identified to vacate before Monday 8 am or be treated as bandits
