Five more fire arms have been surrendered in volatile Nkararo area in Trans Mara West Sub County bringing the total number of firearms surrendered in a span of three weeks to 14.
While addressing the media in his office on Friday, the Narok County Commissioner (CC), Samuel Kimiti confirmed said the government would not lift the extended curfew hours until the residents surrendered all the guns in their possession.
The 4pm to 7am curfew was imposed by the government two months ago to stop the long lasting conflicts between two Maasai clans; Uasin Gishu and Siria that live in the area.
“We have intelligence on the ground and we know that there are more illegal firearms still being held by civilians. We are not about to lift the extended curfew hours until all guns are surrendered,” said Kimiti.
He lauded those who had surrendered the illegal firearms but asked them to entice their colleagues to follow suit so that the government could lift the extended curfew hours.
“If you want your life to go on normally, return the guns. Failure to doing that, the 4pm to 7am curfew will continue. So it is upon you to decide whether the curfew will be lifted or will remain as it is in the moment,” reiterated Kimiti.
Two months ago, the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner (RC), George Natembeya and his Regional Police Commander (RPC), Marcus Ocholla visited the area after dozens of houses were burnt by unknown persons where he imposed the curfew in the volatile area.
A contingent of security officers have been deployed in the volatile land to ensure the extended curfew hours was implemented.
The fracas in the agricultural rich area are traced back in the early 1970s when the two Maasai clans differed over land issues.
However, despite the Department of Lands putting a clear boundary to separate the two clans, the residents still battle each other and three months hardly end without fresh conflicts being witnessed in the area.
A General Service Unit (GSU) camp built in the area also seems not to be bearing much fruit as dozens of persons have been killed, tens injured and several houses burnt this year.
The embattled land is one of the richest agricultural zones in Narok County as it produces a lot of sugar cane used by Mara Sugar Industry in addition to tea, onions, bananas, maize and a variety of vegetables.
By Ann Salaton
