The Operation Ondoa Jangili, which targets criminal groups in Isiolo and Marsabit counties, has done a lot in pacifying the region that had for long not known peace, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said.
He said the exercise will continue.
“The operation has thwarted several criminal activities and curbed the proliferation of small arms,” the CS said.
The multi-agency team is grappling with illegal mining, drug and human trafficking as well as cross-border incursions.
The CS was speaking to the media when he received a progress report of the operation at Marsabit Police Station.
The police also paraded recovered and surrendered arms as well as drugs netted in the operation.
“The operation has recovered more than 200 arms and resulted in the arrest of more than 300 suspects, many of whom have been charged,” the CS said.
“The war on drug trafficking has netted 286 foreign nationals. The operation is ongoing, and our multi-agency teams remain vigilant to apprehend criminals and bring lasting peace to the region.”
The CS said 600 NPRs have been hired to strengthen the operation.
The operation which targets Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) hideouts in the area has recovered several items including weapons and ammunition, walkie talkies, camera stands, a solar panel, a generator, Marijuana, among other things believed to be used by the militia in carrying out their illegal activities.
The operation started on February 3.
Police said the group has taken advantage of close family and cultural ties between the Borana of Kenya and Oromo of Ethiopia to infiltrate and hide amongst the population and continue committing atrocities causing untold suffering.
The operation was launched after both Kenya and Ethiopia accused the OLA of committing crimes in the area.
OLA is an armed opposition group active in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia.
The OLA consists primarily of former armed members of the pre-peace deal with Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) who refused to disarm out of skepticism of the deal, and former youth protestors who grew disillusioned with nonviolent resistance
Police said the high-level operation will target criminals conducting illegal operations that pose a serious threat to Kenyan national security.
The region had been facing insecurity challenges ranging from cattle rustling, human smuggling, drug trafficking, armed robberies and those targeting gold mining sites.