More elected leaders to surrender their illegal firearms

More elected leaders are set to surrender their illegal weapons, it was revealed yesterday.

At least four Members of the County Assembly (MCA) and senior members of the executive arm intend to surrender their weapons.

The development follows a bold move by MCA for Ngaremara Ward Peter Losu, who surrendered a G-3 rifle, a magazine and 20 rounds of ammunition to County Commissioner George Natembeya on Tuesday.

"We know the other MCAs and senior county officials, including a minister, who possess illegal weapons. We have talked to them and I am sure they will come forward and surrender them in the course of the week," Mr Natembeya told The Standard.

The administrator said the amnesty to surrender illegal arms would be extended but did not state for how long, adding that no one would be victimised.

He said an operation to mop up illegal firearms would be conducted if residents fail to surrender the weapons.

An amnesty issued by Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery to pastoralists in conflict-prone regions expired mid last month.

No one had surrendered the weapons in the three-month amnesty period and Mr Losu is the first person to do so after the expiry of the deadline.

On Tuesday, the MCA said he possessed the illegal weapon that was used by his herdsmen to guard his livestock from rustlers.

The MCA has a pending case of incitement at the Isiolo court. He was arrested and charged following clashes between the Turkana and Samburu communities.

The clashes between late 2014 and October last year left more than 30 people dead, dozens wounded and hundreds of livestock stolen.