Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan has issued a strong message to people holding illegal firearms in the North Rift area to hand over their weapons at once or face legal consequences.
After leading a high-level security meeting with top police officers from Turkana and West Pokot counties in Turkwel, the RC blamed the upsurge of insecurity in the region. He said that at least 19 people have lost their lives and over 700 head of livestock have been stolen since July this year due to a series of banditry attacks along the Turkwel belt.
It is estimated that more than 80 incidents of banditry have been reported by the authorities within the same timeframe, resulting in government operations being intensified to restore peace and stability in the region.
Hassan stated that the security personnel had managed to recover 297 head of livestock that had been stolen in various attacks. However, he expressed his dissatisfaction at the continued resistance of some communities, especially those of Turkana County in the surrender of illegal firearms.
“The government has done everything it can to facilitate the voluntary surrender of guns, but there has not been a single firearm that has been surrendered from Turkana,” Hassan said, accusing the part of the residents of that area of not being sincere in the peace process.
The RC also advised politicians to refrain from making statements that could escalate ethnic tensions. He said that one of the main causes of the continued violence and loss of lives in the region has been the incitement of people.
Mr. Hassan assured that the government was determined to eliminate banditry and that peace would return to the North Rift. He added that if anybody was found with illegal weapons, he would be treated ruthlessly.
