Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen Friday, July 25, 2025, extended an olive branch to bandits and those in possession of illegal firearms, even as he warned of a crackdown.
Murkomen revealed that, since the crackdown began, over 1,000 firearms have been recovered, and efforts are ongoing to close loopholes to recover the remaining 10,000 firearms.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner’s office in Iten, on Friday, July 25, 2025, ahead of the Jukwaa La Usalama security tour in the county, Murkomen said that he was giving a grace period for those in possession of illegal firearms to surrender.
“If you own an illegal firearm, we are allowing you in the shortest time possible to present it to police officers,” he said.
He said the government will take back to school those who will surrender their arms, noting that a majority of them are of school-going age.
“I am ready, working with relevant agencies, to take to technical schools those who surrender their firearms so that they acquire skills to empower themselves.”
“Some of these people are of school-going age. Instead of engaging in crime, we will give them scholarships to get skills that they can use to take care of their lives,” he said.
Enhancing security
Murkomen stated that, following their training, the reformed bandits will be deployed to construction sites to contribute to the ongoing Affordable Housing initiative.
He warned that another ruthless security operation is being launched to weed out the remaining bandits and their financiers.
“Those who insist that they must continue to be in banditry will have no one to blame. Our security agencies are going to deal with them firmly,” he said.
The CS said the bandits “should therefore take this olive branch and choose peace by surrendering guns and taking pens instead”.
Murkomen also warned that he owned intelligence information about prominent people, including politicians and civil servants in the county, who are buying and supplying bandits with weapons.
“We are aware of elements who are buying and supplying firearms; some of them are teachers, contractors, and politicians. The law will catch up with them.”
“I want to give them an olive branch, surrender to the police before it’s too late.”
