Kindiki said the government had prioritised restoring peace in the area, which had suffered banditry and criminal activities that disrupted livelihoods

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki addressing Laikipia West residents on October 26, 2026/ALICE WAITHERA

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said improved security in Laikipia West has enabled residents to resume normal activities, with the government stepping up infrastructural development after years of insecurity.

“We celebrate the peace here in Ol Moran. When we took over, this place was inhabitable because of banditry and criminal activities, but we thank the President for the unwavering commitment to restore peace here. This place is now enjoying peace and stability,” he said.

Speaking on Monday during an inspection of development projects in Laikipia West, the Deputy President said he was proud of the progress made in restoring security in the region, where he served as Interior Cabinet Secretary between 2022 and 2024.

“I feel proud that our brothers and sisters in Laikipia West are now going on with their lives peacefully and can sleep at night without fear of being attacked,” he added.

However, recent attacks in other parts of the county have highlighted the continuing security challenges facing residents.

In January 2026, armed raiders stole more than 1,400 livestock from Naibung’a, Salamba and Sek villages in Laikipia North, leaving two people with gunshot wounds. The attacks forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes as women and children sought refuge in a nearby school.

In November 2025, two siblings aged seven and 17 were shot dead while grazing livestock in the Naibor area, prompting the deployment of additional security personnel amid fears of further attacks.

The incidents came despite ongoing government operations targeting armed criminals and livestock theft.

Kindiki said the government was now focusing on accelerating development in areas that had lagged behind because of insecurity.

On Monday, he inspected the construction of the Sipili-Ol Moran Road and commissioned Ol Moran Police Station and Division Headquarters. He also addressed residents at Ol Moran shopping centre, assuring them that ongoing projects would be completed on time.

The road is among 577 kilometres of projects at various stages of completion across Laikipia County, with a combined cost of Sh28 billion.

Kindiki said the government planned to increase the allocation to Sh60 billion to construct 1,000 kilometres of new roads, noting that insecurity had slowed infrastructure development in the region.

“We have prioritised construction of the roads at Sh28 billion, but we will raise it to Sh60 billion because we target 1,000 kilometres of new roads. This area was left behind for long because of insecurity,” he said.

Among the major projects are the Rumuruti-Nanyuki and Nanyuki-Doldol-Naibor roads, which are under construction. The Deputy President challenged contractors handling the projects to accelerate the works and avoid delays.

Education has also received attention, with the government constructing 20 schools in areas previously affected by banditry.

“Last year, when the President was here in Laikipia, we had constructed 10 schools through the Kenya Defence Forces. He directed additional 10 schools, which have been completed. Another 10 schools are in the pipeline,” Kindiki said.

The government has also allocated Sh470 million to the last-mile electricity connection programme in Laikipia, with plans to increase the funding to Sh1 billion to connect an additional 10,000 households.

Fifteen modern markets are also nearing completion across the county, six of them in Laikipia West.

Kindiki pledged to regularly visit the area to monitor the progress of ongoing projects and ensure those in the pipeline commence without delays.

“The same way I came here several times when I was Interior Cabinet Secretary to ensure restoration of peace, I will be frequenting this area to ensure completion of the ongoing projects,” he said.

He urged residents to reject political leaders seeking to divide communities along political lines, saying peace was necessary for the region’s continued development.

“Don’t let politicians incite you to fight each other because of political choices. We must always maintain peace because we will live together once elections are over,” he said.

Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri thanked the government for its security interventions, saying residents in Ol Moran and other parts of the county were increasingly able to farm, conduct business and go about their daily activities without fear.