Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Osman Warfa has ordered county security committees and chiefs in the region to ensure that all people holding weapons are registered.
Speaking to reporters in Nakuru town on Friday, Warfa said that a campaign to register all legal weapon owners has begun.
The Regional Commissioner said that the move would pave way for disarmament exercise that will be carried out soon in the region.
“We want to know people who own weapons and whether they own them legally or illegally,” said Warfa.
He observed that rising insecurity in some parts of the region is linked to illegal ownership of firearms.
“We have been lenient for long and this time round we mean business. Illegal firearm holders must surrender them,” he added.
Warfa said the security of the region will be guaranteed only if illegal firearms owners surrender the weapons.
He said that rising cattle rustling and banditry attacks will be curbed through proper disarmament programmes. Warfa said that no citizen will be intimidated or threatened during the exercise that starts immediately.
He also urged chiefs to keep proper records of people in their localities. Warfa ordered local administrators to implement government security measures at their respective localities.
Some parts of Rift Valley have seen rise in cattle rustling, banditry attacks and inter community conflicts.
Parts of Baringo, Turkana, Samburu and Pokot counties have experienced retaliatory attacks pitting some member of the communities.