Three illegally held firearms and 43 rounds of ammunition were voluntarily surrendered in separate recoveries across Tana River County, in what security agencies have described as a boost to the ongoing community-led disarmament campaign.

According to the National Police Service (NPS) statement on Friday, July 10, 2026, the weapons were handed over on Thursday, July 9, through separate operations involving members of the public and a multi-agency security team.

In Bangale, residents surrendered two AK-47 rifles together with 35 rounds of ammunition to security officers. In a separate incident in Tana North Sub-County, another firearm and eight rounds of ammunition were voluntarily handed over.

Police said the recoveries demonstrate growing public cooperation with security agencies and reflect the success of a community-centred approach to addressing the proliferation of illegal firearms.

“Beyond the numbers, the recoveries reflect an approach that places communities at the centre of security interventions.”

“The multi-agency approach, working in close coordination with local stakeholders, continues to create an environment in which members of the public are increasingly choosing dialogue and cooperation over silence,” the NPS said in a statement.

How officers are building trust

The police service added that continued engagement between police officers and local communities has helped build trust, encouraging residents to surrender illegally held weapons voluntarily.

“The National Police Service continues to maintain regular interactions with residents, building confidence and encouraging the peaceful handover of illegally held weapons, with the shared objective of enhancing public safety and ensuring lasting peace and security,” the statement added.

Murkomen on fighting insecurity

This comes as the Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen warns individuals sponsoring and facilitating banditry in Samburu, West Pokot, Tiaty and Isiolo, saying the government will use intelligence-led operations to track them down and bring them to justice.

Speaking in Lolmolok, Suguta Ward, Samburu County, on Thursday, July 9, 2026, Murkomen said security agencies had identified those financing and coordinating attacks and vowed they would face the full force of the law.

“We know where you are, and we will come for you. Through intelligence-led operations, we will find you wherever you are, regardless of who you are, and we must deal with you,” he said.