Provincial administration at Langobaya division in Malindi district is investigating cases of firearms smuggling in the area by pastoralists communities.
Langobaya divisional officer Selina Maitha said they had formed a security body which is carrying out investigation after reports that pastoralist’s communities living in the area are smuggling firearms in the area.
“We received reports that pastoralists in this area are sneaking in firearms which are not allowed but whoever will be caught will be prosecuted,” she added.
According to her statement to press, Maitha urged pastoralists to surrender their firearms before they are arrested and prosecuted.
She said availability of firearms being carried by the pastoralist’s community in the area poses security threat in the region noting that they had not obtained licence from authority.
“We are not going to allow people to own firearms without government notice and licence because that poses a security threat to locals living in the area.
Whoever knows that has fireman or any other offensive weapons should surrender them to the government before the long hand of the government arrested them,” she noted with concern.
Maitha however warned pastoralists living in the area to stop crossing river Galana through a local foot bridge meant for locals when the river over flows.
She pointed out that pastoralist community in the area crosses the bridge with over 3,000 cattle which is not allowed as it can cause it to break because it is delicate.
“The bridge was meant for locals and it accommodates a certain weight and so crossing over 3000 cattle through the bridge can break it down,” she added.
Maitha went further to add that those who will be caught crossing their cattle through the bridge will be arrested and prosecuted as they pose a great threat of breaking it.
“We have reports that pastoralists threatens locals with their firearms and knives when asked why they use the bridge to cross their cattle such habit will not be tolerated let them be warned,’ he posed.
She said the bridge was constructed by Presbyterian Church of God after cases of locals being attacked by crocodiles and hippopotamus were reported.
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