A breakthrough has been recorded in the Kerio Valley as communities continue to respond positively to disarmament calls.

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, residents from six locations voluntarily surrendered twelve AK-47 rifles and sixty-four rounds of ammunition to security officers.

The National Police Service (NPS) described the handover as a turning point in the ongoing security operation, noting that it reflects a growing sense of trust between the public and security agencies.

“The security operation in Kerio Valley has reached a new milestone, with remarkable gains made in Kibiriem, Talai, Kaben, Koibirir, Ketut, and Chemwonyo Locations,” the Service said in a statement. posted on its official X account on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

For decades, the Kerio Valley region has been marked by cycles of violence, cattle rustling, and armed banditry. Authorities have long insisted that peace could only be achieved through voluntary cooperation by residents. The latest gesture, according to NPS, is a step towards breaking that cycle.

“On 20th September 2025, locals voluntarily handed over twelve AK-47 rifles and sixty-four rounds of ammunition to security officers,” the statement confirmed.

Security experts view the surrender as not just a show of compliance but also a sign of the communities’ willingness to embrace lasting peace. For families who have endured years of fear, the decision to hand over weapons is an important declaration that the desire for stability outweighs the instinct for revenge or survival through violence.

NPS noted that the move is a “significant boost to the ongoing disarmament efforts and a clear sign of growing community trust and cooperation in the fight to end armed crime.”

Disarmament campaigns in conflict-prone areas have often faced hurdles, including resistance from locals who fear exposure to rival attacks. The fact that residents in multiple locations responded voluntarily is being hailed as a symbol of shifting attitudes.

The Police Service emphasised that the road to stability in Kerio Valley depends on collective effort: “The National Police Service (NPS) continues to urge all members of the public to surrender any illegal firearms and ammunition and to embrace peaceful coexistence as the surest path to lasting security and development in the region.”

With twelve assault rifles and dozens of bullets now off the hands of civilians, authorities hope that this new spirit of cooperation will inspire other communities across the Valley to take similar steps. In the words of many residents, fear is slowly giving way to hope, and the future promises a Kerio Valley where peace is stronger than the gun.