Kiambu County Commissioner Alex Nkoyo has asked residents owning firearms illegally to surrender them to police.
The commissioner alleges that some residents own firearms illegally a move he says has contributed to rising crime rate in some parts of Kiambu.
Speaking to journalists at Kiambu town on Monday, Nkoyo said that police have information that some people are possessing firearms illegally. The Kiambu commissioner said that it against the law for anyone to possess a firearm with authorisation.
“We have information that a section of people within Kiambu County own firearms illegally and want to request them to surrender the weapons to the police,” he said.
Nkoyo said that his office has convened a meeting with all sub county security officials to discuss the matter.
He said that the rising crime in some parts of Kiambu could be as a result of the ownership of the r firearms that find themselves in the hands of criminals and gangs. The Kiambu commissioner also asked the owners of the firearms who have not registered them to so immediately.
Nkoyo said that they will discuss on how to approach the issue adding that appropriate security measures are being employed to guarantee security. The Kiambu commissioner said that police have increased patrols across the county this festive season.
He asked residents not to panic and instead support the police in fighting criminal elements.