West Pokot County residents who own illegal firearms have two weeks to surrender them

West Pokot County residents who own illegal firearms have two weeks to surrender them.

              Speaking at Makutano stadium during Mashujaa day celebrations Sunday, the area County Commissioner Apollo Okello said those who would not honour the call would be dealt with severely.

              Okello said the government gave out a time frame to illegal holders of guns to surrender them before the government embarks on a forceful operation to mop up the guns.

             “You either accept the government’s call by voluntarily giving out the arms to relevant authorities or let us do our work forcefully. We cannot allow some few people to continue causing trouble,” he said

             The commissioner said the national police reservists were disarmed and their guns were in the hands of the government, saying those who still had guns were holding them illegally and would face the full force of the law if found.

              “I’m giving them only two weeks to surrender.  You can surrender to chief or any other security officer or even religious leaders,” he said.

             He said security along the borders has been beefed up for the past six months and assured residents and national exam candidates of maximum security during exams period.

            He asked area leaders to be united for the sake of peace with neighbouring counties.

            On the car theft which the leaders raised during the function, the commissioner said security personnel were investigating the issue and some culprits had been arrested and would appear in court soon.

            “The car theft syndicate is big and as security team, we are almost reaching a breakthrough.  Victims come from as far as Uganda, Busia, Eldoret and Bungoma.  Night patrols have been intensified, “he said.

             He urged operators of guest houses and lodgings to take details of their clients, saying this would help to arrest victims implicated in robbery.

 The area MP Samuel Moroto complained that car theft had become a perennial problem and asked security officers to beef up security within urban centres.

            “The syndicate has become so rampant that every day, a car is stolen within Makutano Township and nobody is arrested. We are calling security on to be serious and do their job as required,” said Moroto.

           He however blamed the national government for closing schools within the county that had poor infrastructure.

            “The government should rethink on the directive.  This will expose our girls to dangers of FGM and early marriages.  How could they close Tipet and Kangoletiang schools along the border of West Pokot and Turkana where cases of early forced marriages are on the rise?” he questioned.

County Executive Committee Member for Public Service Joel Arumonyang who read the governor’s speech who is on a one week tour abroad said the county government was working closely with national government officials to ensure that peace and development was realized in the area.

             “The county government of West Pokot has built peace border schools at Kanyerus, Akulo and Katikomor which will be opened next year.  This is to foster peace with our neighbours,” he said.