State to Crackdown on Criminals in Kitui, Says DP Kindiki

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 6 May 2026 - A fresh wave of violence in eastern Kenya has thrust security back to the top of the national agenda, with Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki vowing a sweeping crackdown and promising what he calls a “lasting solution” to simmering conflict in Kitui’s volatile borderlands.

Speaking in a measured but firm tone after a high-level regulatory conference at South Eastern Kenya University, the Deputy President signaled that the government is shifting from reactive deployments to a more sustained, intelligence-led approach.

The immediate trigger: deadly flare-ups in Kwa-Kamari, Tseikuru — an area long shadowed by banditry and resource-based tensions.

“We will ensure the people of Kitui are safe,” he said, making clear that the latest violence would not be dismissed as routine. Security agencies, he confirmed, have been ordered to intensify operations across the affected zones.

But beyond the deployments lies a deeper concern. Officials increasingly believe that criminal networks are exploiting long-standing disputes over scarce resources — land, water, grazing routes — to entrench violence. In a pointed warning, Kindiki drew a direct line between opportunistic crime and these conflicts, pledging tough consequences.

“The same way we have suppressed banditry and terrorism,” he said, “we will crack down on those hiding behind resource conflicts to perpetuate crime.”

Notably, the Deputy President broke with the often cautious language of political leadership, insisting that status will offer no shield. Whether perpetrators are local actors, officials, or political figures, he said, enforcement will be uncompromising.

That message comes amid broader scrutiny of governance and state effectiveness. In remarks that widened the scope beyond Kitui, Kindiki turned his attention to Kenya’s sprawling network of 127 regulatory authorities — institutions he suggested are critical to restoring public trust but risk inefficiency without coordination.

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“When regulation is weak, government appears weak,” he said, framing the issue as one of legitimacy as much as administration.

Analysts say the dual focus — security and regulatory reform — reflects an administration under pressure to demonstrate control both in conflict zones and in everyday governance.

The emphasis on visibility, fairness, and consistency suggests recognition that public confidence hinges not only on forceful responses to crises, but on the daily experience of state authority.

For residents of Kitui’s troubled regions, however, the immediate concern remains safety. Whether this latest promise marks a turning point or another chapter in a recurring cycle will depend on what follows the rhetoric — and how deeply the government can address the roots of the conflict.