In an unexpected turn of events, it was found that some police officials had been supporting banditry in Kenya’s North Rift. According to accounts, these officers have collaborated with criminal organizations to attack and steal property from defenseless bystanders.
Human rights activists and local communities have expressed outrage over the police’s complicity in banditry and demanded urgent action to prosecute those responsible. The cops have been charged with failing in their responsibility to safeguard the populace and instead contributing to the issue.
At livestock markets, many of the people who share information about banditry attacks pose as livestock dealers in order to interact with the bandits and receive payment for the information they share after successful raids. Livestock taken from other villages is used as payment.
According to reports, these informantsāwho are occasionally chiefs or security officersāgive bandits information that helps them plan and execute effective raids and ambushes on security personnel. After a successful raid, the informants typically get paid in cash or in the form of animals. The bandits typically spare the informants and their families during an attack, creating a complicated and dangerous scenario that makes it difficult for security forces to address the issue.
The situation has gotten so bad that the government has established a task group to look into the claims and find the officers responsible. To eliminate rogue officers and rebuild confidence between the police and the community, the task force is anticipated to collaborate with other security organizations.
Additionally, the government has pledged to take tough measures against any officers discovered to have assisted banditry, including disciplinary actions and criminal charges. The neighborhood has faith that justice will be done and that the police will resume serving and defending the populace.
by: martombevi