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Handover illegal guns to State, Isiolo residents urged

Isiolo Sub County police commander Edward Kang'ara displays one of the four firearms recovered in Daaba, Ngaremara ward on May 2, 2024. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu)

By Waweru Wairimu | Thursday, May 23, 2024

Isiolo Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Patrick Musango has appealed to residents holding illegal firearms to surrender them to the State or risk forceful disarmament.

Attributing insecurity to the proliferation of illegal firearms, the administrator said residents had no reason to own a gun because the government had enough weapons to protect citizens and their properties.

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Musango said cattle rustling cases had dipped in the recent past following the surrender of 15 guns and 22 rounds of ammunition, many of which were handed over to authorities by local elders, in the last four months.

Nine of the firearms were surrendered in Ngaremara, two others in Leparua and two homemade guns were recovered by police during their routine patrols in Kulamawe, Bulapesa ward.

"The government has deployed National Police Reservists to augment police efforts especially in responding to attacks and protecting local communities. Why then should a civilian have a gun?" he posed.

Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner Patrick Musango. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu)

The administrator hailed local elders for working closely with the chiefs in ensuring guns in the wrong hands are surrendered, revealing that the exercise targeted hotspot areas.

"We will have no option than to undertake a forceful disarmament if residents in areas where we suspect there could be more illegal firearms fail to expeditiously surrender the weapons," he warned.

Meanwhile, a man was charged before a Marsabit court with being in possession of an illegal firearm.

Hussein Wario Wako was found with an AK-47 rifle loaded with seven rounds of ammunition at the Dotty Sora area in the Badasa area.

He denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Christine Wekesa and was released on a Sh500,000 bond.

The hearing of the case will start on May 28 this year.