7 illegal firearms recovered after Samburu security operation

The ongoing security operation in parts of Samburu East is slowly bearing fruits following the recovery of seven illegal firearms and more than 30 stolen animals in the last week.

Of the seven firearms, three were confiscated at the Donyo Wasin area where local elders and residents on Monday handed over eight cows reportedly stolen from Tigania East in Meru County.

The remaining four were recovered from the Serolipi area where a bandit was shot dead two weeks ago for opening fire at police officers who were driving cows that had been surrendered in the area to a waiting truck.

A mentally disturbed woman was also killed during the gunfire exchange.

Samburu East Deputy County Commissioner Stanley Kimutai told The Eastleigh Voice that the weapons were recovered following a forceful disarmament exercise in the areas.

The recovered livestock include eight camels that are part of 120 that were stolen during last Saturday's bandit attack at Isiolo's Mlango area where a herder was shot dead.

Five were recovered on Sunday and the rest on Monday.

The three firearms that were recovered at the Donyo Wasin area, Samburu County. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu/EV)

"The government will continue with the forceful disarmament because the people have failed to surrender the illegal firearms to authorities," Kimutai said, adding that no Kenyan was justified to have a gun as the government has enough resources and personnel to protect all citizens.

The administrator appealed to residents to collaborate with the authorities in the recovery of stolen animals and the arrest of criminals in the area.

A senior police officer intimated that there are more than 20,00 illegal guns in Samburu East.

Local residents hailed the recovery of the firearms as a step towards the right direction but questioned why there were no arrests for those in possession of the recovered guns.

"Arresting those who were in possession of the recovered weapons would aid in making more arrests and confiscation of firearms," Samson Ekidor a resident from Uaso area in Waso ward said.

And despite Samburu being among the six North-Rift counties under the State's Operation Maliza Uhalifu which started early last year, there has been growing insecurity in the region.

At least four people including Angata Nanyekie MCA Paul Leshimpiro and a retired police officer Aroi Lekopore have been killed by bandits in the last month.

Lekopore was grazing his livestock within the Loosuk area when bandits raided the village, shot him dead and walked away with his 50 goats and six cows, early this month.

A father and his three-year-old son had also been gunned down a week earlier within the Lolmolog area at the same time when the MCA was shot dead while travelling the Baragoi-Maralal route.