State opts for diplomacy in fight against illegal firearms

The government appears to have lowered from its initial position to roll out a full-blown disarmament operation in the North Rift region and is instead resorting to diplomacy in a bid to mop up illegally held firearms.

For the last one week, the government has been engaging local elders from the warring communities as a first step towards peace building initiatives in the region before rolling out the operation as a last resort, the People Daily has established.

Sources intimated to the People Daily that the issue was explored during a top security meeting that had brought together all police commanders from the bandit prone counties and representatives from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) chaired by Rift Valley police boss Tom Odera in Nakuru on Monday.

Illegal firearms

“It is true that the issue came up and majority of those in attendance were of the view that it is one of the best options towards peace building in the region as the operation to mop up illegal firearms continues,” a source privy to the development said.

Six banditry-prone counties in the region among them Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu have been termed as ‘disturbed’ and ‘dangerous’.

Sources say that despite the deployment of heavily armed security personnel, including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the region, no operation has commenced.

Besides conducting patrols, the government multi-agency team, comprising KDF, Kenya Police, Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), General Service Unit (GSU) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have camped at local shopping centres waiting to receive surrendered firearms. The team has also mounted road blocks at major roads in the region. “Despite the KDF having rolled in heavy equipment that include firearms detectors and armoured personnel carriers, they are yet to launch the operation. The bandits have at the moment retreated to the jungles in the hills,” a senior police officer based in Turkana said.

Meanwhile, residents of Kainuk Turkana South, have continued to live in fear as armed bandits are reportedly roaming freely especially near Kainuk bridge and Amolem village despite the heavy presence of security personnel.

Some residents have claimed that gunshots from the daring bandits continue to rent the air as they engage police officers and KDF soldiers in a game of hide and seek.

Dispute resolution

Contacted for comment yesterday, Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Abdi Hassan acknowledged that though the government was exploring other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms but maintained that the security operation which kicked off on February 15 will continue.

“We welcome any options to preaching peaceful co-existence in the region but we are not abandoning the ongoing security operation. The security personnel will remain on the ground for as long as it takes,” said Hassan. “We will explore other strategies involving other stakeholders like peace meetings with the communities but the security operation will continue until we flush all bandits out of their hideouts,” added the administrator.

He assured residents in the banditry prone region that the security personnel were only after bandits wreaking havoc in the region and called on law-abiding citizens not to panic but continue with their daily activities.

This comes as attacks continued to be reported in the region despite the deployment of a multi-agency security team.

On Wednesday, the security personnel who were on patrol along the Turkwel river belt came face to face with armed bandits suspected to be from Tiaty sub-county.

The more than 30-member gang is said to have ambushed Kenya Defense Forces and police officers in Kainuk and engaged them in a fierce shoot-out.

Hassan said the security forces overpowered the suspected cattle rustlers who retreated towards the Amolem area with hundreds of their livestock. The administrator said at least two bandits were arrested in Kainuk, following the attack.

During the fire exchange, one civilian namely Sharon Akiru, 21, got dislocated ankle as she ran to safety and was rushed to Kainuk dispensary and later referred to Lodwar County Referral Hospital. “No injuries were reported on the side of the officers. The patrolled area remains relatively calm,” said Hassan.

At least 100 civilians and 16 police officers have been shot dead in the past six months alone by armed bandits roaming the North Rift region.