Pokot residents want govt to mop up illegal weapons

Residents living in the volatile border of West Pokot and Turkana counties have asked the government to mop up illegal guns in the hands of criminals in the area.

The residents now say they are committed to ensure peace prevail between the Pokot and Turkana communities as they continue to feel the effects of insecurity along the border.

The residents were speaking during a meeting with the joint Parliamentary Committee on Cohesion and Integration at Turkwel area.

Also in attendance was committee chair Johnstone Sakaja who urged the government to equip police reservists to ensure they are able to quickly respond to emergencies.

Sakaja also said that the government should fund peace and reinforce the work of peace committees in the area citing that directorate of cohesion has 800 million and the money should be channeled to all constituencies in the county.

Sakaja further pointed out that residents along the border lacked basic services and he called on other donors to move in to improve livelihood along the border.

This call comes few weeks after leaders from both Turkana and Pokot communities held a series of peace meetings along the border to call for peace between the two warring communities.

The Pokots and Turkanas have been involved in recurrent attacks that have led to loss of life and families displaced.

The two communities have also for a long time been engaged in protracted armed raids that have impacted negatively on their socio-economic livelihoods.