Saitoti extends amnesty for arms surrender

By Cyrus Ombati

The Government has extended the arms amnesty deadline by a month.

The amnesty lapsed yesterday and security forces were expected to embark on disarmament.

However, after consultations with leaders from pastoralists communities, Internal Security Minister George Saitoti announced the extension.

"The extension of the period is aimed at sensitising the locals on the need to surrender the weapons and restore peace and security for development," he said.

Prof Saitoti said there would be no more extension when the amnesty period ends on February 20.

Illegal weapons

He said security personnel would start to disarm residents with illegal weapons when the deadline ends.

He made the remarks in his Harambee House office when he met MPs from pastoralists areas.

Marakwet West MP Boaz Kaino led the MPs for the meeting with the minister.

Saitoti said pastoralists had demonstrated goodwill and co-operation with security forces by surrendering illegal firearms and cattle during the amnesty period.

The Government recovered 2,399 guns, 27,186 bullets, 3,372 cattle, 4,388 goats and 12 donkeys during the period.

Saitoti said all police reservists would be vetted, their firearms registered and their command structure strengthened to streamline their operations. The minister said no cattle would be allowed to move from one area to another without Government permit issued by the Veterinary Department upon verification by the local administration.

"Chiefs have been directed to ensure all livestock are branded by April to curb cattle rustling," he said.

Mr Kaino said: "There will be order in grazing because there are rules. We will support a forceful disarmament in case of any raid from now."

Meanwhile, fear of the police has made hundreds of residents of Isiolo, Meru, Marsabit, Moyale, flee their homes ahead of a planned disarmament operation.

Buses and matatus from Isiolo and Maralal reported heavy bookings by residents travelling to as far as Nairobi to join their relatives to avoid possible "brutality".

The exodus was triggered by the end of the earlier deadline for herders to give up illegal arms, which has since been extended.

— Additional reporting by Ali Abdi