Governor Tunai asks GSU for humane disarmament

Governor Samuel Tunai addressing residents. (Photo: Robert Kiplagat/Standard)

Governor Samuel Tunai has asked General Service Unit (GSU) officers conducting a disarmament exercise along the Transmara West and East border to stop harassing residents.

Reacting to complaints of brutality by residents, Mr Tunai asked the officers to conduct the operation in a humane manner and target culprits instead of residents. “As a county we commend the Government’s move to weed out illegal arms that have been causing insecurity in Transmara. What we do not support however is the brutality meted out on innocent locals. The officers should target the criminals,” he said .

The governor has also appealed to the warring Maasai and Kipsigis communities to embrace a peaceful co-existence.

He asked the security team in the area to investigate and prosecute individuals found culpable of inciting local residents to violence.

“No human being has the right to take another life no matter who he is. We have lost lives and property to the conflict in this area and it is time to end it once and for all,” he said.

Last week, unknown arsonists torched 11 houses in Esoit just before the operation that has recovered three firearms, among them two AK-47s and a G-3, was launched.

The perennial inter-ethnic conflict, which is attributed to land boundaries, cattle theft and scramble for water and pasture, has left scores dead.

Tunai said he would convene a major peace and reconciliation meeting involving all leaders in the area.