Weapons to be seized in three nations

Kenya will hold a joint disarmament operation with Uganda and Ethiopia when its extended amnesty expires on January 21, next year.

Internal Security minister George Saitoti said the concurrent exercise is aimed at preventing people who have declined to surrender illegally held arms from sneaking into the neighbouring countries when forceful disarmament starts.

The minister was speaking in Isiolo as he inspected the 440 guns and 2,300 rounds of ammunition surrendered by herders in Isiolo and Garba Tula districts. He commended the residents for responding well to the calls by the government to build peace.

Prof Saitoti said the January deadline will not be extended. “We have agreed with our neighbours, Uganda and Ethiopia, that we shall hold disarmament concurrently to avoid cases of people finding safe havens. When the (extended amnesty period), ends we will move in with full force but the exercise will be conducted in a humane manner so people should not be afraid,” he said.

At the same time, Prof Saitoti announced that more police posts would be set up in Isiolo to beef up security in areas which are prone to banditry attacks and along the highways between Isiolo, Marsabit and Garba Tula. He also said that former Kenya Police reservists whose guns were repossessed would be armed again once new recruits were vetted.

Reservists

“Some reservists have been linked to cattle rustling across the districts and we repossessed their guns. But when we recruit afresh, reservists will be vetted by the police and guns will be issued to honest people only,” said the minister. The minister said Kenya would also deploy more security personnel along the border with Somalia to prevent fleeing rebels from crossing into the country.