A family in Transmara South sub-county demonstrated compliance with the government's initiative to curb illegal firearms by surrendering a gun in Narok County last Sunday.
John Keiyua, a member of the family, presented a functional rifle with the serial number 38600/6974.
The rifle, equipped with 4 rounds of 7.62mm sp. ammunition, was handed over to Enkopiria chief Julius Siparo and his assistant, John Musingo.
As per the police report, the rifle, while serviceable, lacked a buttstock and was subsequently stored at Lolgorian Police Station. This act of surrendering the firearm preceded a coordinated operation involving the General Service Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit, and General Unit. The operation targeted three residences within the Siteti area.
"The operation team left a warning to the family to surrender the weapons to the government through their area chiefs," read part of the report.
The chiefs asserted that the rifle was passed on to them by village elders in the Siteti sub-location, who, in turn, received it from the implicated family.
Subsequently, the same firearm was transferred to the sub-county security team.
The police have initiated investigations to determine the origin of the rifle, and the inquiry is currently in progress.
The chiefs are facing mounting pressure to surrender additional firearms.
The region has been grappling with security challenges, with residents reporting instances of armed thugs terrorizing the local populace.
Recently, the members of Maasai and Kipsigis communities engaged in a fight following a land dispute at Angata Barigoi area where one person was injured.
The escalating tensions compelled the Narok county security team, under the leadership of County Commissioner Isaac Masinde, to organize a meeting with representatives of the two conflicting communities.
The goal of this gathering was to develop a comprehensive set of solutions, key among them being the concerted effort to confiscate illegal firearms held by civilians.
Early this year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki asked persons holding illegal firearms to surrender them.
Failure to which, Kindiki says the culprits will meet the full force of the law.
In a statement, the CS said the government is taking decisive measures to curb security threats in Northern Rift Valley.
