Baringo: Baringo County Commissioner (CC) Stephen Kutwa has extended a one-month amnesty to individuals possessing illegal firearms, urging them to surrender their weapons to authorities. He emphasized that no punitive measures will be taken against those who voluntarily hand over their firearms, highlighting the success of the initiative with the surrender of at least 20 guns in a single day in Kolowa Ward, Tiaty Constituency.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kutwa explained that the amnesty period aims to integrate individuals into society by providing training on alternative livelihoods. He issued a stern warning to those who fail to comply, stating they will face severe consequences once the amnesty period concludes. Kutwa made these remarks during a press briefing at his Kabarnet office, where he updated the media on the progress of recovering illegal firearms in the county. He reassured those surrendering their weapons of their safety and support.
Kutwa specifically appealed to residents of Kolowa and Silale areas, which are believed to host a significant number of illegal firearms. He commended the local population for their cooperation with security agencies, particularly after the Jukwaa la Usalama for Baringo County initiative, which he described as enlightening for all stakeholders involved.
The commissioner urged communities in regions plagued by banditry and cattle rustling to maintain collaboration with multi-agency security teams to restore peace and stability in the area. He assured that the national government is committed to ensuring those displaced by insecurity can return to their ancestral lands and resume normalcy. Ongoing initiatives, such as livestock restocking and the reconstruction of 14 vandalized schools, were cited as efforts to normalize conditions in the affected regions.
Kutwa noted that the county is experiencing increased peace, leading to the reopening of schools previously shut down due to security threats from cattle rustling and banditry.