Police in Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet County, received fifteen AK-47 rifles and 77 rounds of ammunition that were voluntarily handed over by local residents.
The weapons were surrendered on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, through the sub-county security team with support from peace committees in Ketut, Chemwonyo, Mon, Kiptumbur, Kibaimwa, Chechan and Murukutwo locations. The firearms and ammunition are now in secure custody.
This latest surrender adds momentum to the broader disarmament exercise in Kerio Valley, bringing the cumulative haul so far to 205 rifles, 1,413 rounds of ammunition and one firearm grenade (FRG), according to official tallies from the National Police Service (NPS).
In a statement, the NPS praised the community’s cooperation in the recovery.
“We commend the cooperation of the public, elders and Peace Committees, and we urge continued support to advance peace through information sharing and the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms,” the service said.
The NPS also encouraged residents to report anonymously, noting: “Members of the public are encouraged to share information via the toll-free hotlines 999, 911 and 112, use #FichuaKwaDCI on 0800 722 203, or send tips on WhatsApp to 0709 570 000.”
The surrender effort comes amid rising signs of trust between communities and security agencies.
In recent days, residents in various locations of Kerio Valley have voluntarily handed over firearms and ammunition without direct confrontation, reflecting a shift in attitude toward cooperation over conflict.
For instance, prior to this, 12 AK-47 rifles and 64 rounds were surrendered by communities from six locations, according to NPS public statements.
In other parts of the region, similar voluntary surrenders have been logged; 10 illegal firearms were handed in just days earlier in Elgeyo-Marakwet.
Security officials say the disarmament campaign is not merely about weapon collection but restoring peace and reducing violence driven by arms proliferation.
The repeated voluntary handovers are being interpreted as signs that communities are increasingly willing to relinquish weapons that have long fuelled banditry, cattle rustling and local conflicts.
In its statements, the NPS has repeatedly urged residents not only to surrender weapons but also to provide intelligence on arms caches and trafficking networks.
