The Eastern Regional Commissioner (RC), Isaiah Nakoru has asked herders in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them to the government, since enough security personnel have been deployed into the area.
Leading members of Development implementation and coordination committee in an inspection tour of the Isiolo International Airport (IIA), Nakoru warned that stern measures would be taken against any person found with illegal firearms.
However, he commended local residents, saying in the last one month, five illegal guns were surrendered to the relevant authorities.
The RC said that the principal mandate of any government was to protect lives and properties of its citizens.
He said the government had deployed security officers’ right to the villages to protect the people, thus there was no need for illegal guns, which were sometimes used to fight others.
Nakoru said Isiolo had a bad history, where leaders have been known to incite residents against one another in order to stay in power.
However, currently there were good tidings for the region as potential investors are now eyeing the county, where modern hotels are coming up, creating the much need job opportunities for the youth.
The RC ordered Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCCA) to market the Isiolo International Airport locally and internationally so that commodities like miraa, meat, camel milk and flowers can be exported directly to the outside world.
He said the government spent over Sh.3 billion to construct the facility that would benefit Marsabit, Meru, Laikipia, Garissa, Wajir and Isiolo Counties and also the neighbouring Country of Ethiopia.
A Senior KAA) official, Joseph Odipo said that the airport is ready and urged locals to use it for betterment of their lives and future generations.
Odipo said the government spent Sh77 million to relocate a local primary school in the airport ground so that the runway was increased by 1.4 kilometres.
By Abduba Mamo
