Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet has gazetted 26 areas in Baringo and Laikipia counties where residents are not allowed to possess arms.
In a special Gazette Notice published on Friday, Mr Boinnet ordered inhabitants to surrender all arms to the nearest police station.
In Baringo County, 19 locations have been named. They include Arabal, Kiserian, Mochongoi, Rugus, Mukutani, Chebinyiny, Komolion, Chepkalacha and Makutano in Baringo South. Others are Paka, Orus, Loiywat, Silale, Nando, Tungulbei, Chepkererat, Kipnai, Ng’oron and Amaya, all in Tiaty Constituency. In Laikipia County, Rumuruti, Ol Moran and Kirimon divisions have been affected.
Other areas include Mithiga and Matuiku locations in Ng’arua division, Salama location in Marmanet division, Segera location in Segera division and Mukogodo East division.
“Upon publication of this notice, all persons/inhabitants are ordered to surrender all arms in their possession with immediate effect to the nearest police station/camp or administrative office during the hours of the day for safe custody,” reads the notice.
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The directive comes two weeks after Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery gazetted the areas as disturbed and dangerous, paving way for police operation to weed out bandits. In a notice issued on February 28, Nkaissery said the order shall remain in force for the next 30 days.
Over the last one month, insecurity fuelled by cattle rustling and fight for pasture in parts of of Baringo and Laikipia, respectively, have escalated to near anarchy.
In Baringo, at least 20 people have been killed, tens of others injured, property destroyed and over 30,000 people displaced. The latest attack in Mukutani on Tuesday left 11 people dead. Over 30 schools have also been closed down.
On Friday, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered deployment of Kenya Defence Forces to the region to boost police operations. Baringo Senator Gideon Moi welcomed the President’s intervention, saying it was long overdue.
“We have always said the problem in Baringo needed the intervention of the President and we hope now things will improve,” he said.
Gideon said it was unacceptable that the government took long to intervene in the ongoing killings and counter-attacks.
“The government should always move swiftly and address issues instead of waiting for so long to intervene,” he said. He appealed for continued assistance of those displaced and living in temporary shelter in schools and churches.
