Elgeyo Marakwet residents surrender 10 rifles, 86 bullets to police

Police in Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet county have received 10 rifles with 85 bullets voluntarily surrendered by residents.

The government had announced an amnesty on those surrendering illegally owned firearms, which has prompted the move, officials said.

The weapons, which included three G3 rifles and seven AK47s, were surrendered to security agencies on September 16.

Police said the surrender was the highest in a single exercise.

The weapons were taken for ballistics tests and other investigations. The owners said they had obtained them to help them in the fight against bandits.

The government has increased security operations in the area to address the cattle rustling problem.

The area is among those under Operation Maliza Uhalifu aimed at dealing with bandits.

The operation targets Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Meru and Isiolo counties.

Besides retributive reaction, strategic investment and sustainable development have also taken a prominent place among the government’s planned crime control interventions for Kenya’s Northern frontier and the Kerio Valley belt.

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen said the long-term vision is to empower the communities to actively take part in the war against cattle rustling and undertake legitimate nation-building activities.

He said there are plans to distribute subsidised agricultural inputs and extension services to residents to revive farming activities as a source of livelihood.

Murkomen ordered fresh vetting for all National Police Reservists as part of efforts to bolster the operations.

He said plans to distribute subsidised agricultural inputs and extension services to residents to revive farming activities as a source of livelihood.

“We are coming to dismantle not only the criminals themselves but also to bring down the entire chain that has been the cattle and livestock rustling industry,” he said.

He also announced a new policy shift, which institutionalises the command structure of the NPR officers, saying they will hence be under the direct command of the OCS as part of efforts to enhance their operations.

The attacks have affected development at large. Most of the stolen animals are driven to urban centres and in particular where they are slaughtered and sold as products.