Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner John Korir has called on residents living along the Egeyo Marakwet-Baringo-West Pokot border to surrender illegal firearms before the government can open closed schools and markets.
Korir who was addressing a peace meeting in Chesogon said the government was hesitant to open the facilities with residents still in possession of firearms which they use to kill each other.
The CC was responding to residents who had called on the government to reopen Chesegon and Cheptuilon secondary schools to allow students go back to school and the markets along the border.
The residents told the CC that they had resolved to promote peace and that no one will attack students in schools citing other schools which were still in operation like Liter girls which is along the border but learning has been going on uninterrupted.
The residents said the government does not need to wait until they deploy the police before the social facilities can reopen.
However, Korir said while the government was doing all it can to restore peace, residents should also play their role by ensuring that weapons used to kill and maim are surrendered to the government.
He assured them that no one will be penalized for surrendering any weapon saying the action will be treated with utmost confidentiality continuing that names of those surrendering will not be disclosed.
The administrator added that no county government will refuse to open any market as it also benefits from revenue but this can only be done when there is peace.
By Alice Wanjiru
