Kuria: Criminals terrorising residents in Kuria East Sub County of Migori County have been put on notice to surrender all illegal firearms in their possession or face the long arm of the government. At the same time, the government has asked the local Kuria community to refrain from engaging in unnecessary land disputes with Kipsigis and Maasai people living in the Transmara area of Narok County.

According to Kenya News Agency, the notice was issued by Migori County Commissioner Mutua Kisilu, following complaints from local leaders over endless cases of killings related to land disputes, heightened cattle thefts, and the general insecurity ongoing in the region. While addressing Madaraka day celebrations at Kegonga Primary School in Kuria East, Mr. Kisilu said that the security team in the area was aware of the many disputes over land boundaries around Gwitembe and Kwiho areas, which have been made worse by the existence of the illegal firearms.

He emphasized that enough time has been given to criminals to hand over the illegal arms to the government, warning those who fail to do so would blame themselves. He asked the leadership in the area to convince all those in possession of such weapons to return them to the government for safekeeping. Mr. Kisilu stressed that the government will not tolerate cases of violent robberies committed by criminal gangs who are well known within the community.

Mr. Kisilu highlighted the secrecy the community holds to protect individuals known to possess these dangerous weapons. He urged the community to encourage individuals to surrender these weapons voluntarily before the government takes action. He also urged the Kuria community to embrace community policing through the ‘Nyumba Kumi’ initiative to help identify the bad elements within it.

He cautioned criminals from the community against taking advantage of their relatives across common borders to smuggle in weapons used to harass innocent residents. Mr. Kisilu regretted that the guns had been used to promote small-time cattle thefts along the borders of Kuria-Maasai/Kipsigis and Kuria-Luo communities, undermining peace and development in the region.

He noted that the security team in the area has previously managed to recover a number of illegal firearms but acknowledged that many still remain in the hands of criminals. The government aims to recover these weapons as soon as possible. Mr. Kisilu called for peaceful coexistence between the Kuria people and their neighbors in Kenya and Tanzania living along the common borders.