BARINGO, Kenya – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a tough warning to residents of Baringo County in possession of illegal firearms, urging them to surrender the weapons voluntarily or face severe consequences.
Speaking during a peace tournament in Chemolingot, Murkomen appealed for cooperation in ongoing disarmament efforts, linking the rising insecurity in the region to cattle rustling and widespread gun ownership.
“Anybody who has an illegal firearm, please surrender it to the government. If you force us to come for the gun, you will be in a lot of problems,” he said.
The CS directed individuals holding weapons to surrender them through local chiefs, Officers Commanding Stations (OCS), or any government official, stressing that illegal guns “are not useful to you” and should be given up peacefully.
Government to Roll Out Youth Programs
Murkomen outlined government initiatives aimed at tackling the root causes of violence, particularly among the youth.
These include the expansion of sports and cultural programs to provide alternative livelihoods and reduce reliance on cattle rustling.
“We want to start sports activities in this region so that the youth can earn a living, just like they do in other parts of the country,” he said.
Crackdown on Gun Suppliers
The CS also condemned individuals supplying firearms and ammunition to rustlers, warning that the government was closing in on them.
“In the cattle rustling business, it cannot thrive without someone supplying guns and bullets. There are people here in the business of selling bullets — their days are numbered. If you do not stop, we are going to stop you,” Murkomen warned.
Cattle rustling has long plagued Baringo County, leading to loss of life, mass displacement, and disruption of livelihoods.
While traditionally rooted in cultural practices, the activity has become increasingly commercialised and violent, driven by poverty, competition for resources, and the easy availability of modern firearms.
