Surrender illegal guns, Joseph Nkaissery tells herders in Baringo

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has given residents of parts of North Rift a one-week ultimatum to return illegal firearms or face forcible disarmament.

Mr Nkaissery spoke on Thursday during a tour of the volatile Baringo-Turkana-West Pokot border.

“You either surrender illegal guns or we will recover them forcibly. We cannot allow some people to continue causing trouble,” the minister told residents of cattle rustling parts of the Rift Valley.

“It is regrettable that more than 6,000 pupils are at home after more than 20 schools were closed due to insecurity,” the minister added.

Mr Nkaissery said firm security measures had been put in place to end incessant banditry and cattle rustling that have characterised the region.

“I am shocked at the state of affairs here. We can’t allow this to continue. Law and order must be restored, not just here but across the country, as I promised when I took office,” he said.

This came as herders accused of invading Arabal and Rukus in Baringo County and stealing livestock started fleeing ahead of the disarmament also meant to flush out bandits.

Tension has gripped the area after some herders vowed to resist their impending eviction in a protracted land dispute between Pokots and Tugens.

Baringo County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo on Friday told the herders to move out voluntarily or be forced out.

“A special security team has been mobilised to forcibly evict the herders after expiry of the one week notice and recover illegal arms,” he said.

Mr Okwanyo gave the herders up to Thursday next week to drive away the over 40,000 animals out of the disputed region or face forcible eviction.

Pokot herders have been accused of invading Arabal and Rukus in Baringo and displaced over 5,000 families before making away with livestock.

Arabal and Rukus is occupied by the Tugen and Illachums but Pokot herders have invaded the region in search of water and pasture, heightening tension in the cattle rustling prone region.

Acting Inspector-General of Police Samuel Arachi who toured the region asked herders who have invaded other people’s territory to move out.

STERN ACTION

Meanwhile, Mr Nkaissery addressed the public in Kapedo, Arabal, Lecha, Makutani, Chemolingot, Kagir and Kiserian.

He held meetings with Baringo leaders and warned of stern action against individuals inciting people to violence.

“Leaders should demonstrate seriousness in the fight against insecurity and desist from activities that can cause tension and hatred among the people,” he added.

Also present during the tour were Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Osman Warfa and Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim, among others.