Criminals who have been causing mayhem in the Kerio Valley will have nowhere to hide as Elgeyo Marakwet County embarks on the use of technology to address insecurity in the area.
Speaking during the piloting of a drone in Tot, Governor Wisley Rotich accompanied by the county security team led by the County Commissioner John Korir said criminals have been using the bush to hide and escape but with the drone the security personnel will be able to track and apprehend them.
According to the Governor, the drone can travel to a radius of 10 kilometres and is fitted with a thermal camera which makes it able to operate at night and in cloudy conditions.
“The criminals should be warned that they will not operate even under the cover of darkness as the drone will locate and expose them,” Rotich warned.
He said once the testing is through, the county will buy more drones to cover the whole area saying he will be talking to his counterparts in West Pokot and Baringo counties to also invest in the same so that they can combine efforts to fight the menace.
“I am therefore calling on the criminals to change their ways and start engaging in economically gainful activities because once caught, they will be dealt with by the law,” he said.
The Governor regretted that the area has suffered major losses in terms of lives and properties and hoped that with technology this will be a thing of the past.
“We are now calling on residents to start cultivating their farms in readiness for the coming planting season as the county has secured market for sorghum and cotton which do well in this area, “ he said.
Korir said while the area has remained calm for the last six months, the security team cannot sit back and assume all is well and hailed the county government for their efforts in working with the national government to end the insecurity in the area.
“The Kerio Valley has its fair share of challenges like lack of roads which have been hampering efforts by the security personnel to pursue the criminals and therefore the use of technology will greatly assist them in their duties.
The CC said Kerio Valley has great agricultural potential saying once there is peace the area will have an opportunity to improve its economic productivity.
Nelson Yano from Sambirir location thanked the government for the move saying criminals having been having an upper hand as they are more familiar with the harsh terrain while security personnel were following them blindly.
By Alice Wanjiru
