For days, tension has hung over the dusty trading centre of Kainuk, with shops closing early and residents avoiding night travel. Stories of sudden gunfire, hurried burials and disrupted livelihoods have circulated quietly, reflecting a community once again grappling with insecurity.
Local leaders, elders and transporters have voiced concern over the impact of the violence on trade along the busy corridor linking Turkana and West Pokot.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday announced a comprehensive security operation targeting criminal elements behind recent bandit attacks in the Kainuk area.
The operation brings together the National Police Service, the Kenya Defence Forces and intelligence units in what the government describes as a coordinated, intelligence led response aimed at restoring calm and protecting civilians.
Mr Murkomen said the renewed operation would focus on sustained patrols, targeted pursuit of armed groups and tighter surveillance along known escape routes used by bandits.
He noted that security agencies had been given clear instructions to act decisively while observing the law and respecting the rights of residents.
According to the CS, the government would not allow criminals to disrupt livelihoods or undermine the safety of communities living along strategic transport corridors.
The Interior CS also revealed that additional personnel and equipment had already been deployed to the area, with forward operating bases being reinforced to ensure rapid response.
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He emphasised that the operation was not a short term show of force but part of a longer strategy to dismantle networks involved in cattle rustling, highway ambushes and illegal arms trafficking.
Local administrators have welcomed the move, saying persistent insecurity has affected schooling, healthcare delivery and trade.
Several residents reported that attacks in recent weeks had forced drivers to abandon night travel, raising transport costs and limiting access to markets.
Traders fear prolonged instability could further weaken the local economy, which depends heavily on cross-county movement of goods.
Murkomen urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by sharing information, assuring them of confidentiality and protection.
He also pointed to ongoing peace initiatives involving elders and county governments, noting that security operations would be complemented by dialogue and development interventions.
As the operation gets underway, residents of Kainuk remain cautiously hopeful that sustained action will translate into lasting peace, allowing normal life and economic activity to resume without fear.
Officials said monitoring mechanisms will be reviewed regularly to assess progress, address emerging threats and ensure accountability as security teams maintain a visible, continuous presence locally nationwide.
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