UPDATE Tuesday, 9 February 2021: Sololo Ward MCA Halkano Konso has surrendered himself to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over links to a racket behind the supply of arms in Turbi-Sololo border.
Konso had gone into hiding and was handed over to Anti Terror Police for questioning, before being presented in court alongside his co-accused.
UPDATE Monday, 8 February 2021: Marsabit County Governor Mohamud Ali has denied claims that a county vehicle recently impounded at the Turbi-Sololo border was ferrying illegal firearms.
He further accused the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) of sharing content on their social media platforms without first verifying with the County Government.
Marsabit Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo maintained that the vehicle was carrying a water technician who on official duty to fix boreholes in the area.
Gubo stated that police had not communicated the circumstances under which the driver and the technician were arrested.
The Deputy Governor further stated that claims that the vehicle was transporting arms was meant to taint the County Government’s image.
Security agents on Saturday, February 6 intercepted a vehicle allegedly ferrying an illegal firearm at Elle borr in Marsabit North Sub-County.
The four suspects were arrested by the Border Patrol Unit (BPU), for allegedly supplying firearms, ammunition and ration to warring factions in the strife-torn Turbi - Sololo border.
While on patrol, BPU officers followed a tip from members of the local community where they spotted a county government vehicle registration number 10CG016A suspected to be distributing supplies to outlaws in Funa Qumbi.
Upon interception, it was established that two of the vehicles' occupants were county government officials one of whom was in possession of an AK-47 assault rifle, with 10 rounds of 7.62mm calibre special.
Detectives established that the county government vehicle was under the control of an MCA, who is alleged to have gone into hiding. Marsabit County commissioner Paul Rotich has since asked the MCA to surrender himself for questioning.
The impounded vehicle and the suspects were held at Turbi police station where they were expected to be airlifted to Nairobi for questioning.
They will be presented in court on Monday, February 8, while the rifle will be subjected to ballistic examination and used as an exhibit in court during trial.
Rotich who is also Chairman of the County Security and Intelligence Committee said strict measures had been put in place to ensure no illicit firearm leaves or enters the county through both conventional and illegal routes.
“The government plans to undertake an elaborate security operation to mop up illegal firearms in the hands of civilians in order to safeguard lives and property for progress,” he said.
