Two illegal firearms and several rounds of ammunition have been voluntarily surrendered by members of the public in Angata Barrikoi, Narok County, days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen issued a seven-day ultimatum for the handover of illegally held weapons.
In a statement issued on Monday, police said a multi-agency security team received the firearms and ammunition on Sunday, June 28, describing the development as a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to restore peace and enhance public safety in the region.
“The surrender marks another significant milestone in ongoing efforts to restore peace, enhance public safety, and eliminate illegal weapons from communities,” the National Police Service said.
Police noted that the recovery of the firearms would help reduce the threat posed by illegal weapons, prevent their use in criminal activities and create a safer environment for residents to carry out their daily social and economic activities.
Authorities urged individuals still in possession of illegal firearms to take advantage of the ongoing voluntary disarmament exercise and surrender the weapons at the nearest police station.
The latest recovery follows Murkomen’s recent directive requiring residents of Ang’ata Barrikoi, Trans Mara South and neighbouring border areas of Narok and Migori counties to voluntarily surrender illegal firearms within seven days. The Cabinet Secretary issued the ultimatum following renewed tensions and cattle rustling incidents that have disrupted livelihoods in the region.
Murkomen has maintained that the government is determined to rid the country of illegal firearms and restore security in areas affected by banditry and armed violence.
The Interior CS recently disclosed that more than 2,000 illegal firearms had already been surrendered during the ongoing voluntary disarmament exercise in the North Rift.
According to Murkomen, the weapons were handed over by reformed bandits and other community members from counties affected by banditry, including Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Samburu and West Pokot.
He said intelligence-led security operations in the region had significantly reduced incidents of banditry, adding that the government was committed to ending the menace permanently.
Murkomen noted that President William Ruto had directed security agencies to deal decisively with banditry and illegal firearms across the country.
He explained that the government first issued a voluntary surrender directive before compiling intelligence on individuals believed to be in possession of illegal weapons. Chiefs were then tasked with notifying those identified to surrender the firearms.
“They had to comply with President Ruto’s directive, which gave them three options. We are happy that many of them chose the best option, which was to surrender the guns,” Murkomen said.
The Cabinet Secretary warned that the same disarmament strategy would be extended to other areas affected by insecurity, including parts of Nyanza and the South Rift.
“I will go and camp in those areas until we have no illegal guns at all. If those in such areas do not believe us, let them travel to Kerio Valley and ask residents what happened,” he said.
Murkomen added that the government’s broader development agenda, including major infrastructure projects, would only succeed if peace and security were maintained across all regions. He said the administration remained committed to opening up previously insecure areas such as Kerio Valley through improved infrastructure and enhanced security operations.
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