Murkomen targets land disputes, illegal firearms in Narok

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern warning to residents of Narok County, urging them to resolve land disputes through peaceful means and desist from violence. Speaking at a town-hall meeting in Narok, Murkomen expressed deep concern about rising tensions linked to ancestral land claims, noting that clashes have sometimes turned deadly, resulting in injuries even among police responding to the unrest. Kenya News+1
The CS highlighted that some of the conflict stems from long-standing historical grievances, particularly over a contested 6,500-acre tract in Ang’ata Barikoi, Kilgoris, claimed by both the Maasai and Kipsigis communities. Kenya News According to Murkomen, the rising market value of land in the region has intensified these disputes, transforming them into flashpoints for violence. Kenya News He also called on political leaders to refrain from exploiting such tensions for personal gain, stressing that land issues should not be politicised. Kenya News
On the security front, Murkomen warned that illegal firearms are fueling the conflict. He revealed that some weapons and ammunition are being smuggled into Narok from as far as West Pokot, Uganda, and Tanzania, thereby raising the stakes of the land-related violence. Kenya News To curb this, he has given the county security team a tight deadline of just one week to arrest and prosecute those involved. Kenya News In a bid to reduce the threat, Murkomen is urging people in possession of unlicensed guns to surrender them voluntarily at police stations before a planned multi-agency sweep begins. Kenya News
Reactions from local communities have been mixed but largely cooperative. Some elders and administration officials have welcomed the renewed push for peace, acknowledging that dialogue and mediation are long overdue in deeply divided areas. The call for gun surrender has also resonated, especially among residents fatigued by the fear and instability caused by armed disputes. At the same time, critics are warning that without sustained follow-through, promises of disarmament might falter once the political spotlight shifts away from Narok.
Looking ahead, Murkomen plans to lean heavily on the Jukwaa la Usalama framework — his security engagement initiative — to facilitate continued conversations between rival communities, security agencies, and local leaders. People Daily+1 The hope is that long-standing land grievances can be mediated through community barazas rather than on the battlefield. If successful, this strategy could lay the foundation for lasting peace in Narok, turning a bitter struggle over land and arms into a model for conflict resolution elsewhere in Kenya.