Interior and Coordination of National Government CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i has imposed a 90-day dusk to dawn curfew in Mt. Elgon following a series of deadly attacks in the region.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i gave the order on Tuesday during a meeting with security teams and community leaders at Kipsigon, Cheptais sub-county to address issues of insecurity.
Residents of Mt Elgon constituency will have to remain indoors from 6pm to 6am for the next ninety days in efforts by the ministry of internal security to contain an upsurge of insecurity in the area as they pursue a gang of seventeen who have been identified to terrorize them.
Matiang’i said the gang is known and during the ninety day period they will use all mean to ensure the gang is faced out and retain peace in the constituency saying it is the mandate of the government to offer maximum security to the residents.
Accompanied by the inspector of police Joseph Boinet, Matiang’i said they will set up police camps at different location and advised the residents to observe the curfew as they are focused on ensuring issues of insecurity not witnessed in the area.
Lands cabinet secretary Farida Karoney urged the residents who had taken over the government plots to return them saying it has also been identified as one of the issues affecting the area saying officials from her ministry will be visiting the area soon to ascertain the situation.
She also cautioned the residents against faring in forest lands saying in efforts to conserve the environment they need to stop with immediate effect.
She assured the residents that President Kenyatta will be touring the constituency in June this year to issue title deeds to resident in Chepyuk saying the land issue will also have been solved.
Devolution Cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa assured the residents of the government’s commitment to have security restored saying being a rich agricultural area the residents must be secure so as to carry on well with their daily activities.
Area MP Fred Kapondi Chesebe said the root cause of insecurity is known saying the government should therefore move with speed to ensure the issue is dealt with.