The government has issued a chilling "final warning" to bandits in the North Rift, demanding the immediate surrender of illegal weapons.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has declared a total war on the banditry menace that has paralyzed parts of the Rift Valley. In a stern directive issued from the volatile Trans Mara region, the CS announced a seven-day amnesty period for the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms. This olive branch, however, comes with a stark warning: those who fail to comply will face the full, lethal force of the state in a subsequent security crackdown.

The Iron Fist Strategy

The amnesty follows a high-level security meeting at Siteti, where the CS revealed that five firearms and fourteen rounds of ammunition had already been surrendered in the preceding 24 hours. While noting this as progress, Murkomen emphasized that it represents only a fraction of the illicit arsenal circulating in the region. The government's intelligence estimates suggest hundreds of military-grade weapons remain in the hands of civilians, fueling inter-communal violence and cattle rustling.

The directive is part of a broader "Maliza Uhalifu" operation, which includes a 30-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in disturbed areas. "We are going to forcefully disarm you," Murkomen warned, addressing the bandits directly. "We will profile, summon, and seek you out. There will be no hiding place."

• Immediate Results: Five illegal guns were recovered in Angata Baragoi, Narok, within hours of the initial announcement.
• Targeted Zones: The crackdown focuses on the bandit-prone belts of Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, West Pokot, and the Kipsigis-Kuria border.
• Humanitarian Aid: The security operation is being paired with relief efforts, including food and building materials for families displaced by recent clashes.

A Cycle of Violence

The region has long been plagued by a cycle of retaliatory attacks and livestock theft, which has morphed into organized crime. The proliferation of illegal small arms has turned traditional disputes into deadly conflicts, claiming the lives of civilians and police officers alike. Murkomen’s "surrender or die" approach marks a departure from previous soft-power attempts, signaling a resolve to break the backbone of the banditry networks.

Local leaders have rallied behind the ultimatum, urging their constituents to take advantage of the amnesty. However, skepticism remains high among residents who have seen previous disarmament exercises fail to yield lasting peace. The success of this operation will depend not just on the recovery of weapons, but on the government's ability to maintain a permanent security presence in the vast, rugged terrain.

As the seven-day clock ticks down, the North Rift holds its breath. The coming weeks will determine whether this is the turning point for peace or the prelude to a bloody escalation in the government's war against banditry.