Farmer surrenders firearm ahead of Matiang'i deadline

An unvetted firearm was yesterday surrendered at Nakuru Central Police Station following a directive by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.

On Friday last week, Matiang'i issued a 21-day ultimatum to all illegal firearm holders countrywide to surrender the weapons at police station nearest to them or risk being declared dangerous criminals.

Rift Valley Police Commander Edward Mwamburi said the 60-year-old gun-holder did not undergo vetting in February.

“One individual surrendered a pistol to Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Nakuru, after the CS' directive,” said Mr Mwamburi.

The man is said to be a large-scale farmer in Olenguruone, Kuresoi South Constituency.

Mwamburi said the pistol and 22 bullets were taken to the ballistics unit for examination.

“We need to establish how long the man has been having the pistol and what he has been using it for,” he said.

The officer said during civilian firearm vetting conducted at Rift Valley regional offices, a number of guns were confiscated by the Firearms Licensing Board and taken for ballistic tests in Nairobi.

“Officers who conducted civilian firearm vetting confiscated 58 guns, and we are expecting about 100 that are in illegal hands,” he said.