According to a Gazette notification dated June 3, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi stated that the curfew will be in force from June 4, 2022, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The curfew virtually shut down five of Elgeyo Marakwet’s twenty wards as the government stepped up attempts to combat banditry in Kerio Valley, an 80-kilometer-long valley between the Tugen Hills and the Elgeyo Escarpment.
The curfew will be implemented throughout Tot Ward, Chesongoch Ward, Tirap Ward, Kapyego Ward, and Arror Ward in the Marakwet West Sub-County.
Matiangi also imposed a ban on all types of meetings for the duration of the curfew, which would be in effect for 30 days.
“Under this Order, there shall be no public gatherings, processions or movement either alone or as a group during the period of the curfew,” Matiangi said.
The order will include the entire Tiaty West Sub-County, the entire Tiaty East Sub-County, and some areas of the Baringo North Sub-County in Baringo County.
The injunction will be enforced in the Chesegon and Sigor wards of West Pokot County.
Politicians from the afflicted region have frequently criticized national administration officials, accusing them of knowingly neglecting to act to curb criminals at the expense of the greater North Rift region’s stability.
An attack on school buses transporting students from Tot High School in February resulted in the injuries of eight pupils, making it one of the region’s most prominent security incidents.
A driver attached to one of the buses died later as a result of injuries sustained during the attack, which targeted a convoy of three buses.
Following the failure of present interventions, Matiangi noted in recent remarks on security in the region that the belt between Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, and Baringo need a fresh approach.
The CS promised to enact “never-before-seen” enforcement measures.
He said the ministry had tried everything to reduce insecurity in the region, including requesting leaders to meet with community members to discuss the problems, but that these efforts had failed.
“That time has now come for us to deal with that belt with unprecedented firmness and we are going to apply fire they haven’t seen to bring order to that particular place,” the CS said.
Security authorities believe there are multiple criminal elements in the area, according to Matiangi, who are challenging the government’s commitment.