Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed that bandits who willingly surrender their firearms will be taken through educational training by the government.
Speaking during the Jukwaa la Usalama session in Elgeyo Marakwet on Friday, July 25, Murkomen stated that the government aims to encourage such individuals to hand over their firearms and reintegrate into the community as part of efforts to end banditry.
"Instead of waiting for the police to come for you, present yourself. And if you had not committed any offence, but you had an illegal gun, that one we are not going to charge you. We will forgive you. In fact, if you do that, we will go a step further to take you to college," Murkomen said.
The CS explained that the government will partner with the appropriate educational agencies and authorities to equip the former bandits with life-changing skills.
According to the CS, some of the youths engaging in banditry are of school-going age. Instead of turning to crime, the government is now extending an olive branch to steer them away from the rising wave of criminal activity in the North and North-Eastern regions.
“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 added.
Murkomen stated that, following their training, the reformed bandits will be deployed to construction sites to contribute to the ongoing Affordable Housing project.
The CS, however, warned youths who persistently engage in banditry, stating that the ongoing crackdown will be intensified to root them out of their hiding places.
“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. They should therefore take this olive branch and choose peace by surrendering guns and taking pens instead,” he said.
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.
He also disclosed that the government has intelligence reports on individuals aiding criminal elements in the region. He named politicians, teachers, and contractors among those suspected of purchasing and distributing weapons to bandits.
The CS urged parents who know their sons are involved in banditry to encourage them to surrender and take advantage of the scholarship opportunity.
