Government to carry out voluntary registration of civilian-owned firearms

Deputy President William Ruto (left) and Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery in Narok. (Photo:DPPS)

Narok, Kenya: The Government will embark on a voluntary programme to register all firearms in the hands of civilians in a move aimed at taming banditry and cattle rustling activities among the pastoralists, Internal Security cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has said.

Speaking during the Pastoral Leaders Forum presided over by Deputy President William Ruto at the Keekorok Lodge, Masai Mara in Narok County on Saturday, Nkaissery said Government has come up with the voluntary programme to ensure those in illegal possession of firearms register them so that they could easily be monitored.

“We have decided as a Government to urge all those in possession of illegal guns to register them in the new strategy to contain insecurity,” he said.

Ruto said cattle rustling and banditry activities could have been eradicated if leaders demonstrated their seriousness in the war against the vice.

He asked leaders from pastoral areas to come up with new strategies and approaches in the fight against insecurity.

Ruto said leaders must come out forcefully and confront the security challenges witnessed in the region by coming up with alternative solutions to the menace.

He said the national and county government would work together in initiating development projects that could provide an alternative source of income instead of relying on livestock alone for their survival.

Ruto said, “We have to take tough decisions to end cattle rustling if we are to catch up with the rest of Kenyans,”

The Deputy President said establishment of irrigation projects would pave way for serious framing activities that will make the youths busy and there will be no room for cattle rustling activities.

“If we have huge irrigation projects in areas like Kapedo or build and equip schools along the border areas, we will definitely occupy the minds of the youths and there will be no room for acts of lawlessness,” said Ruto

The Deputy President said there were substantive resources allocated to the counties which when used well would transform the lives of the people through initiation of income generating activities.

“It should be clear that devolution has greatly favored what used to be called marginalized areas in this country. For instance, who could have imagined that a county like Mandera could get Sh 9billion for development?

“We need to use such resources to come up with projects that can help improve our peoples lives and cattle rustling with be a thing of the past,” he said.

“In this 21st century, it is sad that when the rest of the country is busy on matters of stock exchange, we in pastoral areas are engaging in stock theft. This is why we need new approach to end this once and for all,” added the Deputy President.

He said the national government would work closely with the county governments in search for lasting solution to insecurity

“As leaders from pastoral areas, we have solutions to problems of insecurity. It is just the will that is required for insecurity problems to be solved,” said Ruto.

Ruto said the Government has put in place firm security measures including empowering the 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 all guns in wrong hands, we must also show our commitment in the war against the practice by exposing those behind such incidents,” he said.

Accelerate development in pastoral areas

He said the Government has embarked on the path towards maximizing the economic potential of every part saying Arid and Semi Arid lands (ASAL) should not be left behind.

The theme of the forum was ‘ending inter-communal conflict to accelerate development in pastoral areas.

The meeting was attended by among others, Internal Security and Coordination Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, MPs, Governors, Senators, MCAs and NGOs leaders from pastoralists counties.

The Cabinet Secretary pointed out that efforts to transform the lives of the people were being thwarted by insecurity problems and asked the leaders to come with lasting solutions to the problems.

“We cannot achieve development in an insecure environment. It is because of this reason that as leaders we should come together and find lasting solution to the problem,” he said.

He said proliferation of small arms in the pastoral areas had greatly contributed to insecurity problems adding that time was rife to tame and shame cattle rustlers in this century.

Governors Samuel Tunai (Narok), Hussein Dado (Tana River) and Mohammed Jamma (Garissa) called for an end to acts of lawlessness, which has become stumbling block to the development of the pastoral areas.

The Governors said failure to implement resolutions passed during peace meetings was to blame for increased acts of lawlessness.

Tunai urged leaders in pastoral areas 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.

Dado who is also the chairman of 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 for police to arrest such criminals,” he said.

Dado called for the release of the 20 billion equalization fund which he said could greatly help boost development efforts in such areas.

Chairman of the Pastoralists Parliamentary Group (PPG) Chachu Ganya called on the need for leaders to demonstrate their seriousness in the war against insecurity.

Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) Chairman Sam Kona who was also the moderator of the forum expressed concern that resolutions passed during their previous meetings have not been implemented.

He singled out the national policy on small arms and the policy on disarmament have not been implemented paving room for criminals elements to continue terrorizing wananchi.

“We need to seriously review all that were discussed during our previous meetings and implement the resolutions passed in the fight against insecurity,” said Kona.

The meeting was organized by the National Drought Authority and the European Union.