Take our guns but give us security

Mzee Ekai Suguta knows that surrendering the G3 rifle he bought seven years ago to defend his animals and family is a matter of life and death.

The 73-year-old Isiolo herder has put his faith in the ability of the government to bring peace to the lawless region and to protect him.

He returned the firearm under the amnesty given by Internal Security minister George Saitoti in November to rid the conflict-dogged district of illegal weapons.

And yet he fears that surrendering the weapon could expose him to the marauding cattle rustlers who have taken over the grazing fields.

Without resistance

“If the neighbouring communities do not surrender their guns or police fail to disarm them, the lives of my family members are at risk and my animals will be stolen at will” Mzee Suguta says.

He travelled more than 40km to the operation command centre at Kathere AP post where the joint operation forces have set up a camp to receive the rifles. Mzee Suguta’s sentiments are shared across the pastoral lands by many others like him who have heeded the calls and surrendered their weapons.

Mr Akitoi Achari, 34, a former Kenya Police Reserve officer whose government-issued gun was repossessed early in December by the Provincial Administration, bought a Bren machine gun two years ago when he sensed a simmering conflict with neighbouring communities. He bought it to look after his family herds in Daaba sub-location but now he has given up the rifle to give peace a chance.

“I responded to the calls by the government to surrender illegally acquired guns to avoid being prosecuted. We used to do our business with other communities in Isiolo without fear or suspicion, but look at us now, every community is poor, I returned my gun to boost peace between locals,” said Mr Achari.

A thousand-strong joint contingent of AP and GSU officers have set up a camp at Buuri District just seven kilometres outside Isiolo District in preparation for the disarmament plan, which might turn ugly if residents fail to cooperate.

Operation commander, Mr Anthony Kamitu, urged the locals to be friendly to police if they want a friendly approach to the operation.

However he warned the herders against developing resistance when officers visit their villages.

“The police will be friendly as they execute their duties, but you should also be cooperative or else officers would have to use force to search cattle sheds and compounds where arsenals are hidden,” warned Mr Kamitu.

The officers have stepped up a public relations campaign to persuade people to surrender guns voluntarily.

An officer who requested anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the press, said the joint disarmament team will use about 300 firearm detectors.

The situation was similar across the larger Isiolo District where herders are returning their weapons in hundreds to beat the Christmas Eve deadline.

In Merti Division, 56 automatic rifles and more than 200 assorted rounds of ammunition have been surrendered.

The locals urged the government to conduct the operation without torturing people or committing other human rights abuses. Fear is rife among residents especially women that the arms surrender might go the Mandera way where women were raped and men tortured.

Kipsing ward councillor Peter Lekurtut cautioned the security officers against using dubious lists of people purported to own weapons.

Isiolo DC James Mwaura warned the area politicians to delink politics from the coming disarmament operation since it would significantly affect the success of the programme.