ELGEYO MARAKWET-More than 200 illegal firearms have been handed to police in Elgeyo Marakwet County during a week-long amnesty campaign, the latest sign of shifting attitudes in one of Kenya’s most volatile regions.
Authorities said the haul included 232 guns, 1,595 bullets and a Federal Riot Gun. Most of the weapons were AK-47 rifles, surrendered in recent days under a government-backed disarmament drive.
“This shows that communities now trust the state to protect them,” Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo told reporters on Tuesday. “The government has taken many measures to ensure there is security in the Kerio Valley. That is why even locals are surrendering their weapons.”
The Kerio Valley, part of Kenya’s troubled north, has long been scarred by armed banditry and cattle rustling. Firearms — often bought or acquired illegally — have been used by herders to defend themselves and raid rivals. Local officials admit more guns remain hidden and are urging residents to come forward.
The operation is part of Maliza Uhalifu, a broad security campaign covering eight counties, including Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana and Samburu. Police say the strategy has helped to contain violence, though sporadic attacks continue.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the government’s approach goes beyond policing. He promised subsidised farm inputs and training to revive agriculture as a stable source of income. “We are coming to dismantle not only the criminals themselves but also to bring down the entire chain that has been the cattle and livestock rustling industry,” he said.
Mr. Murkomen also announced a shake-up of the National Police Reservists, who will now answer directly to local police commanders. Authorities hope the tighter structure will reduce misuse of weapons while strengthening coordination with security forces.
The government has framed the disarmament as part of a wider effort to restore normal life in the north. For years, raids and reprisals have hollowed out communities, driven families from their homes and disrupted schooling and farming. Stolen animals often end up in urban markets, feeding an illicit trade that officials say sustains violence.
For now, the return of weapons is being seen as a cautious step toward peace. Whether the momentum holds will depend on whether residents believe the state can guarantee long-term security in a region where the gun has long been a way of life.
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