Bungoma County Police Commander Anderson Njagi has announced plans to mop up illegal firearms in Mt Elgon, warning that security agencies will not allow the region to slide back into the lawlessness that once gripped the area.
Njagi said police were preparing to launch an operation to recover illegal guns believed to be in the hands of civilians, as security agencies move to contain a fresh wave of killings and attacks that has left residents increasingly fearful.
“We are going to mop up all illegal firearms in this area,” Njagi said, warning that the proliferation of guns among civilians remained a serious security concern that could fuel further violence.
The police boss assured residents that security agencies were closely monitoring the situation and would take decisive action to prevent the region from returning to the anarchy witnessed in the past.
Njagi is no stranger to the security challenges of Mt Elgon having been part of a General Service Unit (GSU) team that conducted a similar security operation in the region in 2008, at a time when Mt Elgon was engulfed in violent clashes and insecurity.
He said his experience during the earlier security operation had given him a clear understanding of the dangers posed by illegal firearms and organised criminal groups in the region.
He said the planned firearms mop-up, coupled with investigations into recent killings, would help restore security and reassure residents that the Government remained firmly in control of the situation.
The police commander urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing information on individuals suspected of possessing illegal firearms, saying public support would be critical to the success of the planned operation.
Njagi said police had also intensified investigations into recent killings and attacks and would leave no stone unturned until those responsible were identified, arrested and brought to book.
His announcement comes in the wake of the killing of former Chesakaki councillor and Mt Elgon parliamentary aspirant Nathan Wasama, who was shot dead by unknown assailants at his home in Tuikut, Cheptais, on Thursday night last week.
Wasama was reportedly attacked at about 8pm after armed assailants raided his residence and shot him several times before fleeing the scene, leaving him with multiple gunshot wounds.
His killing has heightened concerns over the security situation in Mt Elgon, with residents and local leaders warning that the re-emergence of gun-related violence could undermine peace in the region as the country approaches the 2027 General Election.
Wasama’s death came only days after the murder of a primary school teacher in Cheptais, further fuelling concerns over the safety of residents in the area.
Wiseman Kimchas, a teacher at Cheptia Primary School, was attacked at about 8pm while leaving a market and brutally killed by unknown assailants.
Rodgers Karach, chairman of the Kenya National Union of Teachers Mt Elgon branch, condemned the killing, describing it as a disturbing incident that had robbed the teaching fraternity and Kimchas’ family of a hardworking professional.
Karach called on security agencies to speed up investigations and ensure those responsible were arrested and brought to justice.
“We condemn this killing in the strongest terms possible,” Karach said, urging security agencies to restore security in the area so that teachers could perform their duties without fear.
He said adequate security was necessary for teachers to administer their duties effectively and called on the Government to take urgent measures to restore peace in the area.
KNUT Mt Elgon Executive Secretary Patrick Cheptum also condemned the killing, describing Kimchas as a hardworking teacher and family man whose life had been cut short without any apparent reason.
He called on all security agencies to be vigilant and apprehend those involved in the killing, saying residents should be able to go about their businesses without fear.
The two killings have revived memories of the violence that rocked Mt Elgon in the past, with residents expressing concern that the region could be sliding back into an era of insecurity.
Retired Sasur Location chief Jackson Komon Chepkurum blamed the latest incidents on rising insecurity, saying residents were increasingly living in fear as the country approaches the 2027 elections.
Chepkurum said he had also received threats to his life, forcing him to restrict his movements and remain indoors for much of the evening.
“At this time and age I am forced to lock myself in the house at 6pm. How then am I expected to be free and interact with others?” he posed.
The retired administrator said the latest killings were a worrying reminder of the insecurity that rocked Mt Elgon in the past, recalling that two chiefs were killed during the 2007 violence.
He warned that the situation could deteriorate if urgent measures were not taken to deal with illegal firearms and individuals involved in criminal activities.
Chepkurum alleged that some individuals involved in criminal activities were enjoying protection from sections of security agencies and were able to move freely while armed.
He called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to take charge of the situation and ensure security agencies moved decisively against criminals operating in the region.
He also called for the transfer of the Mt. Elgon Sub-County Police Commander and other senior police officers in the area, arguing that fresh leadership could help restore public confidence in security operations.
“I am retired. I don’t take orders from anybody therefore I will speak. We cannot afford to live in this state,” Chepkurum said.
The renewed security concerns come amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election, with residents fearing that illegal firearms could be used to intimidate communities and fuel violence.
By Chris Mahandara
