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Two illegal firearms were voluntarily surrendered in Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties on Friday, October 3, 2025, as part of ongoing disarmament and peace-building efforts in the North Rift region.
Security agencies in Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties confirmed the voluntary surrender of two illegal firearms by members of the public on Friday, October 3, 2025. This action is a direct result of ongoing disarmament and peace-building initiatives in the banditry-affected North Rift region.
The National Police Service (NPS) reported on Saturday, October 4, 2025, that one firearm was surrendered in Tiaty Central Sub-County, Baringo County, and handed over to police through local administration. The weapon has been secured by the sub-county security team as part of 'Operation Rudisha Bunduki,' a sustained recovery effort. Similarly, in Elgeyo Marakwet County, one firearm and an empty magazine were voluntarily surrendered to security agencies in Marakwet East Sub-County.
These recoveries, according to the NPS, signify growing cooperation between security agencies, community elders, and residents in fostering peace and security within the region.
The recent surrenders follow similar events in the North Rift. On Sunday, September 28, 2025, police in Kolowa, Baringo County, received three firearms, including AK-47 rifles with magazines and eight rounds of ammunition, voluntarily handed over through local peace structures in Kipnai Location. These weapons have been secured for safe custody, contributing to the broader disarmament and peacebuilding efforts aimed at restoring lasting security in the Kerio Valley region.
Earlier, on Sunday, September 27, 2025, police in Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet County, received nine firearms and 120 rounds of ammunition. These included eight AK-47 rifles and one G3 rifle, surrendered through the cooperation of local Peace Committees in Arror, Chesuman, and Mokoro Locations. These recovered rifles and ammunition are also in safe custody.
This latest series of surrenders brings the total number of illegal firearms recovered under the ongoing disarmament exercise to 249, along with 1,758 rounds of ammunition and one firearm grenade (FRG).
The voluntary surrender of firearms is a key component of 'Operation Rudisha Bunduki' (meaning 'Return the Gun' in Swahili), a government-led initiative aimed at recovering illegal arms and promoting lasting peace in the volatile North Rift region. The National Police Service Act and the Penal Code on unlawful possession of firearms provide the legal framework for these operations. The Ministry of Interior, NPS, and county security committees oversee the process, which includes verification of surrendered weapons, investigations into criminal use, and eventual destruction of recovered arms under judicial supervision.
The National Police Service has consistently commended the continued cooperation of the public, elders, and peace committees. They encourage further support in advancing peace through information sharing and the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms. Local leaders, elders, and residents have been urged to support 'Operation Rudisha Bunduki' by sharing information anonymously.
Community engagement is crucial, as past disarmament efforts have sometimes been hampered by mistrust. The current approach combines security enforcement with social incentives to gain grassroots support. Peace committees and local dialogue spaces, such as the Mikeu-Sagat IVDS committee in Kerio Valley, play a vital role in mediating conflicts and building trust between communities.
While the voluntary surrender of firearms is a positive step, the North Rift region faces complex, decades-old challenges of banditry and cattle rustling. The proliferation of illegal small arms remains a critical driver of insecurity, with estimates suggesting over 650,000 illicit firearms in the country, mostly concentrated in pastoral counties. Disarmament efforts must address underlying issues such as politicisation of disarmament, the East African black market for Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), cross-border governance, and holistic development shortfalls.
The full extent of illegal firearms still in circulation in the North Rift remains unknown. Additionally, the long-term effectiveness of voluntary disarmament without sustained socio-economic upliftment and comprehensive community backing for security initiatives is yet to be fully determined.
Continued monitoring of community engagement and the rate of voluntary firearm surrenders will be crucial. The government's commitment to matching security measures with consistent funding for development projects, such as roads and markets, in historically neglected areas like Tiaty, will be key to fostering lasting peace and stability.
The government's broader security operation in the North Rift, 'Operation Maliza Uhalifu' (launched February 2023), involves the deployment of military, police rapid response units, and intelligence operatives across six North Rift counties. This multi-agency effort aims to counter bandit networks and enhance regional security.
