Police owned up to holding a leading and vocal Isiolo youth Sadam Buke and later claimed he is linked to Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in the area.
This came hours before the arrival of President William Ruto who is on a tour of the region.
Police spokesman Michael Muchiri said Buke was not abducted as alleged. He said the arrest was part of ongoing mounted “Operation Ondoa Jangili” in the area.
“We wish to clarify that Sadam Buke is in lawful custody alongside others. He is suspected of being a key facilitator and coordinator of Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in both Isiolo and Marsabit Counties.”
“He was arrested during the ongoing mounted ‘Operation Ondoa Jangili’, being conducted in both Marsabit and Isiolo Counties. He and others are expected to be arraigned in court,” said Muchiri.
Locals said Buke was picked up on Thursday evening from Royal Acacia Park by men who were driving in a four-wheel drive car.
The team in the operation say they have 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.
These recoveries mark the beginning of sustained efforts to eliminate criminals from the areas and affirming police’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property, fostering a secure environment for the local communities, said.
He added they will continue with the exercise to pacify the area. No arrests have been made so far.
The operation was launched after both Kenya and Ethiopia accused the OLA of committing crimes in the area.
It also came after President William Ruto last month held talks with Ethiopia’s Director General of the National Intelligence Security Service, Redwan Hussien in the company of Kenya’s Director General of National Intelligence Service Noordin Haji.
The meeting took place at State House in Nairobi and the issue is said to have featured hence the operation.
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
Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli and Director DCI, Mohamed Amin launched the exercise on behalf of Inspector General of police Douglas Kanja.
Kanja said the high-level operation will target criminals conducting illegal operations that pose a serious threat to Kenyan national security.
“These include arms, drug and human trafficking, illegal mining, instigating tribal conflicts and kidnapping for ransom especially in Sololo, Moyale, North Horr, and Merti Sub-counties,” he said.
He assured the local communities in the aforementioned areas of their security while also appealing to them to remain calm and cooperate with the security teams on the ground.
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