The Government has embarked on voluntary registration of illegal firearms among the pastoral communities in the Rift valley.
Rift Valley coordinator Osman Warfa said the government will not allow communities town guns without proper guidelines.
Speaking in Chepareria, West Pokot County after launching Kipkomo district, Warfa warned of stern action against those who will not heed the Government’s directive to surrender all firearms in the wrong hands.
“Those who are yet to surrender their firearms for registration should do so before the expiry period of voluntary surrender of such guns ends,” said Warfa.
He called on those who want to register their firearms only needs to visit the nearest chief’s offices with their national identity card.
The Government will not tolerate those with illegal guns in this area. I kindly ask you to pass this message to anybody you know possesses such arms,” he said.
The Commissioner however revealed that peace has been realized in the volatile areas along the Pokot-Turkana border for almost a year.
He applauded the two communities to keep peace along the border for the past eight months .
“The communities in the North Rift region have made tremendous strides in promoting peace, Last December we were very happy to see Pokots and Turkanas celebrating Christmas together,” he said.
Warfa called on the locals to embrace peace and do away with outdated cultural practices like female genital mutilation and cattle rustling, which he said had retarded development in the region.
“We are also giving caution to politicians who are fond of inciting locals along the border that the government will not compromise security matters,” he said.
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin called for political goodwill among leaders in the search for peace in the insecurity prone areas to ensure development is realized.
Kachapin called on politicians in the area to stop early campaigns but instead preach peace among the communities to ensure sustainable peace.
He said the County government will work closes with security organs to support peace activities in the region and support reformed warriors with alternative livelihood.
He however thanked the government for support the two communities realize peace through peace caravans and peace meting s along the border.
Leaders present include Pokot South M.P David Pkosing , Kapenguria M.P Samuel Moroto , County M.P Regina Nyeris and former minister Julius Murgor who called on the government to set funds to support reformed warriors among the two communities.
The leaders thanked the government for the new district which will ensure locals get government services closer to them.
