Police recover over 1,000 firearms in Kerio Valley in 5 months
By Faith Lagat, December 2, 2025Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed that more than one thousand illegal firearms have been recovered in the Kerio Valley region in less than five months, marking a major milestone in the government’s ongoing fight against banditry.
Speaking on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, during the presentation of the Jukwaa La Usalama report to President William Ruto, CS Murkomen highlighted the achievement as evidence of progress in troubled areas.
“Let me say a summary of the security challenges we are facing as a nation is as follows. One, Your Excellency, we continue facing the challenge of terror around our borders, and that is an issue that we continue managing, our security teams are working on, and we appreciate the chiefs and assistant chiefs that cover the areas affected because they are working closely with the police to make sure that this issue is addressed,” Murkomen stated.
Banditry challenges in Kerio Valley
The Cabinet Secretary then turned to the issue of banditry, which he described as the second major security concern.
“Number two, Your Excellency, we continue facing the challenges of banditry. Banditry continues to become a challenge in most parts of the country, but we must report that, Mr. President, since you came to office, a lot has been done across special areas of Kerio Valley where there is now peace. We have pacified those areas, we have taken guns from the criminals, and with the support of the chiefs, we have been able to collect over a thousand guns in only less than four months. That is thanks to the guidance that you have given,” he told the president.
Murkomen emphasised that the large-scale recovery of firearms in Kerio Valley has brought relative calm to an area long plagued by cattle rustling and armed clashes.
Replicating the model in other counties
While acknowledging the success in Kerio Valley, the Interior CS noted that banditry remains a persistent problem in other regions.
“We still face challenges of banditry, especially in the counties of Meru, Isiolo, Samburu, and, Mr. President, this is an issue that we want to deal with, and deal with with finality using the example we have received from the successful areas,” Murkomen added.
The recovery of over 1,000 firearms in under five months underscores coordinated efforts between security agencies, local administration, and community leaders in the Kerio Valley operation.
The Interior Ministry has cited the Kerio Valley model – combining disarmament, community engagement, and sustained security presence – as the template it intends to replicate in Meru, Isiolo, Samburu, and other banditry-prone counties.