The Government will embark on voluntary registration of all firearms in the hands of civilians. The move is aimed at taming banditry and cattle rustling, Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaisery has said.
Speaking yesterday during the Pastoral Leaders Forum presided over by Deputy President William Ruto at the Keekorok Lodge, Masai Mara in Narok County, Mr Nkaisery said Government had come up with the programme to ensure those in illegal possession of firearms register them for easy monitoring.
Ruto said cattle rustling and banditry activities could have been eradicated if leaders demonstrated seriousness in the war against the vice. He said national and county governments would work together in initiating development projects that would provide alternative source of income for pastoralists.
“We have to take tough decisions to end cattle rustling if we are to catch up with the rest of Kenyans,” said Ruto, adding: “Devolution has greatly favoured what used to be called marginalised areas... who would have imagined that a county like Mandera could get Sh9 billion for development? We need to use such resources to come up with projects that can help improve people’s lives,” he said.
Ruto said the Government had put in place firm security measures, including empowering police officers through use of modern weapons in dealing with criminals undermining peace efforts. “But as we put in place proper security measures, including registration of guns in wrong hands, we must also show commitment in the war against the practice by exposing those behind such incidents,” he said.
The theme of the forum was, ‘Ending inter-communal conflict to accelerate development in pastoral areas.’ The meeting was also attended by MPs, governors, senators, members of county assemblies and NGO leaders from pastoralist counties.
Nkaissery said: “We cannot achieve development in an insecure environment. Leaders should come together and find a lasting solution to the problem,” he said.
Governors Samuel Tunai (Narok), Hussein Dado (Tana River) and Mohammed Jamma (Garissa) said failure to implement resolutions passed during peace meetings was to blame for increased acts of lawlessness.
Mr Tunai urged leaders to put more resources in education, saying development was elusive in areas with high levels of illiteracy. “In fact, cattle rustling incidents could have been eradicated if majority of our people were educated,” said Tunai.
Mr Dado, who also chairs the Security Committee of Governors said politicians were not serious in the war against cattle rustling. “Some MPs always protect cattle rustlers from their communities making it difficult to arrest such criminals,” he said.
He called for the release of the Sh20 billion equalisation fund, saying it could greatly help boost development in such areas.
Chairman of the Pastoralists Parliamentary Group Chachu Ganya called on leaders to demonstrate seriousness in the war against insecurity. Kerio Valley Development Authority Chairman Sam Kona expressed concern that resolutions passed during their previous meetings hadnot been implemented.
The meeting was organised by the National Drought Authority and the European Union.
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