The Government has reviewed the vacation order to all civilians in banditry-prone areas in relation to the ongoing security operation in Northern Rift Valley region.

In a statement Monday evening, some areas have been excluded while others were included where Government believes that bandits have been hiding and using innocent civilians as human shield.

Areas excluded include; Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lobokat, Lokoron, the Turkwell Escarpment and Ombollion areas within Turkana and West Pokot Counties.

Members of the public in the excluded areas were advised to continue with their daily activities, subject to the security measures Gazetted on 13th February 2023 where applicable.

The included areas are Ng’elecha Hills and Gorges, Ramacha and Losokoni Caves, Laramoru Gorges, Karau Hills, Noosidan Escarpment, Rugus Caves and the Amaya Gorges at the interface of Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu Counties.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki gave a 24-hour window period to civilians in the included areas to vacate warning that those found would be treated as suspects of armed robbery.

“Any member of the public found in the spaces specified in this paragraph after Tuesday 14th March 2023 1930 Hrs will be treated as a suspect of armed banditry, or as a suspect of aiding and abetting banditry, or an accessory after the fact,” said CS Kindiki.

On Sunday, CS Kindiki said after the expiry of the ultimatum, the Government would embark on a new phase of the war that targets flushing the bandits from caves, forests, gorges and ravines.

By Fred Azelwa.