Marsabit town residents on Wednesday woke up to peace threatening leaflets that dotted streets and roads throwing local security agencies into a spin.
The leaflets that also threatened attacks on two police posts at Jaldesa and Kubi-Qallo areas heightened investigations into financiers and perpetrators of ethnic clashes.
The Marsabit County Commissioner (CC), Evans Achoki who the whole day was engaged in a county security meeting said the government was determined to get rid of criminals perpetuating insecurity in the region.
Achoki who spoke to the media after the meeting held at the Catholic Hall assured wananchi of Marsabit County that measures, including night and day security patrols have been put in place to ensure there was safety during and after the festive season.
The CC warned that the authors and distributors of the leaflets would be hunted down and punished, saying the move was meant to instill fear and despondency.
“The government will not allow any acts of lawlessness which has in the past occasioned displacement of families besides claiming lives, including that of three police officers,” Achoki warned.
He appealed to members of the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies in matters concerning security adding that the progress in the one-month long disarmament operation was encouraging.
Achoki who was accompanied by Marsabit County Police Commander (CPC), Steve Oloo however, cautioned that force would be used to from those believed to have declined to surrender the guns.
The administrator also disclosed that security has been strengthened on the international border with Ethiopia in a bid to stem proliferation of illicit firearms and criminals.
Achoki added that control of contraband goods that stifle economic growth, deny the country revenue and exposing the safety of Kenyans to danger was discussed during the meeting that involved county heads of security and those from the seven sub-counties.
In addition, the CC said that the government was in the process of recruiting chiefs and their assistants to fill vacant positions across the county.
He said that divisions that do not have assistant county commissioners (ACCs) would also be operationalised in a bid to make service delivery regarding security more stringent.
By Sebastian Miriti
