Firearms Holders To Register Them Voluntarily, Nkaissery

The move by is aimed at taming banditry and cattle rustling activities among the pastoralists communities.

Nkaissery, a retired military officer, ordered all civilians who own guns to register with the security officers in their areas lest their firearms be confiscated.

Nkaissery, who was chairing the Pastoral Leaders Forum at the Keekorok Lodge in Masai Mara, Narok County, said that the government will not allow civilians who are not registered to continue holding firearms.

"As a government, we will not allow any civilian to hold a gun that is not registered. We need to know how many guns are out there. This is the only sure way to take the recurrent shame and threat of banditry and insecurity in our country," said the CS.

MONITORING FIREARMS

Nkaissery further ordered leaders to take their duties seriously and in unity if security is to be achieved.

Deputy President William Ruto, who presided over the function, echoed Nkaissery's sentiments saying that such an exercise will help in improving security by monitoring on how each firearm is used.

The DP noted that cattle rustling and banditry activities can be eradicated if leaders demonstrate seriousness in the war against such activities.

Ruto urged leaders from pastoral areas to come up with new strategies and approaches in the fight against insecurity.

In January, the government in conjunction with pastoralist communities said it would launch a disarmament exercise in counties within Northern Kenya to recover illegal firearms.

Leaders from seven pastoralist communities had committed to work with the government to tame incidents of cattle rustling and insecurity in the semi- arid region.

RESOURCES WARS

Leaders at the meeting called on the government to assure residents of security once they willingly surrender the firearms.

According to the agreement, boundaries between warring communities will be reviewed with the aim of ending perennial clashes due to resources.

On the regional front, Uganda challenged the Kenyan government to carry out disarmament in pastoral regions and get rid of illegal firearms in the hands of civilians.

Uganda’s Minister for Energy and Mineral Development Peter Lokeris had said that Kenya has not taken disarmament seriously, adding that the heavy presence of guns among the pastoralists threatens peace along the border.

“Kenya is yet to seize the illegal firearms among the pastoralists especially the Pokots and Turkana. Let the government emulate Uganda and conduct a successful disarmament exercise to restore peace along the common border,” said Lokeris.

By Maureen Murimi.