President William Ruto has ordered the redeployment of the Special Operations Group (SOG) to Baragoi, Samburu North, as part of a renewed government offensive to end rampant gun violence, livestock raids, and inter-communal clashes in the region.
Speaking during a two-day development tour of Samburu County, Ruto said the government will no longer allow the area to remain trapped in cycles of bloodshed and lawlessness.
He said the elite unit will spearhead a coordinated disarmament and peace restoration mission targeting illegal firearms and criminal networks behind the violence.
“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives to criminal elements. The government will not relent until every illegal gun is surrendered and peace is restored in Baragoi and across northern Kenya,” the President declared.
Ruto described Baragoi as a historical hotspot of armed conflict driven by cattle rustling and retaliatory attacks.
He cited recent incidents in Suyian and along the Baragoi–Tuum and Baragoi–South Horr corridors as evidence of renewed insecurity requiring urgent intervention.
The President appealed to residents in possession of illegal weapons to surrender them voluntarily, warning that those who fail to do so will face arrest and prosecution.
“If you are here and you know a friend who has a gun, we will come for it. So bring it early,” he warned, emphasizing that illegal firearms had caused immense suffering through killings, displacement, and social breakdown.
He noted that gun violence had devastated families, leaving widows, orphans, and deep-rooted mistrust among communities.
Ruto assured residents that the new security operation would be firm but fair, focusing on restoring safety, rebuilding livelihoods, and promoting reconciliation.
The Special Operations Group, composed of highly trained officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), was previously deployed to Samburu North two years ago to reinforce the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU).
Their earlier mission significantly reduced banditry before violence resurged in recent months.
Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit welcomed the President’s directive, describing it as a timely move to restore confidence and stability.
He said the SOG’s previous operations had helped pacify the region and encouraged residents to cooperate fully with security agencies.
“The return of the Special Operations Group is a major boost to our efforts to bring peace and development to Baragoi. We believe this will mark the beginning of lasting stability,” Lelelit said.
Ruto reaffirmed his administration’s plan to permanently station KDF units in all banditry-prone areas of the North Rift, saying the soldiers would not only maintain security but also support infrastructure and social development.
“Beyond peacekeeping, our officers will help build roads, improve schools, and develop water projects so that the people of this region can finally enjoy the dividends of peace,” Ruto said.
