IG Kanja Bans Possession of Firearms in 13 Disturbed Areas in Marsabit County

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja speaking at a meeting at the Administration Police College in Embakasi on Monday, February 17.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja speaking at a meeting at the Administration Police College in Embakasi on Monday, February 17.
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NPS

The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has banned the possession of firearms in 13 areas in Marsabit County.

In a notice dated September 11, Kanja claimed that the areas have already been declared as  “security disturbed and dangerous” by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.

The areas include Hillo Gorgora, Hillo Orofa, Hillo Walkite, Hillo Tanzania, Hillo Irress Abamartille, Hillo Gootu, Hillo Tessum Qalicha, Hillo Karray, Hillo Hudda, Hillo Qoranjido, Hillo Irress Shindia, Hillo Rabaalee, and Hillo Godde Haroressa.

Kanja has noted that individuals who possess firearms in these areas are required to surrender them to the nearest police station, post, camp, or government administrative office.

Douglas Kanja
Inspector-General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja addressing the Narok resident on April 29.
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National Police Service

Kanja, who, however, noted that the surrender is for safe custody and not permanent confiscation, noted that the government will return the firearms to their owner once the notice is terminated.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 106 (2) (a) of the National Police Service Act, 2011, the Inspector-General of the National Police Service prohibits the possession of arms in the following parts of Marsabit County declared as security disturbed and dangerous by the Interior CS," the notice read.

"On the taking effect of this notice, all inhabitants of the said areas are ordered, with immediate effect, to surrender all arms in their possession to the nearest Police Station, Police Post, Police Camp and National Government Administration offices during the hours of the day for safe custody," it added.

In the same gazette notice, CS Murkomen extended the declaration that the 13 areas in Marsabit County were declared as security-disturbed and dangerous.

Murkomen, who gazetted the areas as disturbed and dangerous through a gazette notice on Friday, July 1, claimed that he decided to designate the aforementioned regions as insecure and dangerous after consultations with the National Security Council.

The notice to extend the declaration kicked off on Saturday, September  13, 6:30pm and will last for the next 30 days.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 106 (6) of the National Police Service Act, 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, in consultation with the National Security Council, extends the declaration made on 13th August, 2025, declaring parts of Marsabit County as security disturbed and dangerous," Murkomen stated.

"This notice shall take effect on the 13th September, 2025, as of 6.30pm, for a period of thirty (30) days and may, at any time, be withdrawn or continued in force for such further period as the Cabinet Secretary may, in each case, by notice in the Gazette direct," he added. 

Murkomen Kanja
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja during a Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Nyeri on Thursday, August 21 , 2025.
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Kipchumba Murkomen