Surrender of the weapons is part of a security enhancement strategy encouraged through amnesty.
Police in Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties have received two illegal firearms voluntarily surrendered by members, pointing to a sign of growing community cooperation with ongoing disarmament and peacebuilding efforts in the North Rift.
According to the National Police Service, the firearms were handed over on October 3.
In Baringo County, one weapon was surrendered in Tiaty Central subcounty and delivered to the police through the local administration.
The gun has since been secured by the subcounty security team as part of the ongoing recovery campaign under Operation Rudisha Bunduki.
In neighbouring Elgeyo Marakwet county, another firearm and an empty magazine were surrendered to security agencies in Marakwet East subcounty.
Police commended the action, saying it reflects trust between residents, community elders, and security officers working jointly to curb insecurity in the region.
“The recoveries reflect the growing cooperation between security agencies, community elders, and residents in promoting peace and security,” the statement read.
The service urged members of the public to continue supporting Operation Rudisha Bunduki by volunteering information anonymously through the toll-free hotlines 999, 911, or 112, or via #FichuaKwaDCI.
Information can also be relayed via WhatsApp number 0709 570 000 or by calling toll-free number 0800 722 203.
The latest surrender comes weeks after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced a two-week amnesty for the handover of illegally held firearms as part of the government’s strategy to curb banditry and inter-communal conflicts in the North Rift and border regions.
Speaking in Busia during a Jukwaa la Usalama forum on September 11, Murkomen warned that individuals who failed to take advantage of the amnesty would face intelligence-led operations.
“Those who defy this offer will face dire consequences if we come for you. We are going to forcefully disarm you. We are going to profile, summon, and seek you out,” he said.
By September 22, at least 22 firearms and 108 rounds of ammunition had been voluntarily surrendered in Elgeyo Marakwet.
Police in Tot reported that all the weapons received were AK-47 rifles handed in to the sub-county security team.
Three days later, the National Police Service Commission announced that 232 firearms and 1,595 rounds of ammunition had been surrendered by residents across Kerio Valley under Operation Rudisha Bunduki.
It remains unclear whether the government has extended the amnesty beyond the initial two-week window, which lapsed on September 24.
Nonetheless, the gradual recovery of weapons is a positive step towards enhancing peace and restoring stability in a region that has previously experienced prolonged volatility.
