Nairobi — Detectives have raided a home in Trans Nzoia East District in search of weapons, signalling that the government was not taking lightly reports of re-arming in the Rift Valley.

More than 10 CID officers from Nairobi searched the home in Maili Saba, Cherangany for several hours.

However, the detectives, who arrived at the home of Mr David arap Koech in 10 vehicles, left without making arrests after failing to find weapons.

Sources told the Daily Nation that the raid may have been prompted by reports that the home was being used to make and store arrows. Mr Koech denied the allegations and instead demanded the person who gave the information be investigated.

He said he was a law-abiding citizen who could not allow such criminal activities to be carried out in his home.

Area MP Joshua Kuttuny criticised the police over the raid, saying the operation was a scheme by some senior government officials to taint the names of some of the region's leaders.

He described reports of an arms race in the region as "mere allegations" and warned the authorities to go slow over the matter to avoid what he called "unnecessary provocation".

Mr Kuttuny, who later visited Mr Koech's home, also pointed an accusing finger at an unnamed local administrator whom he said was on a mission to target one community in the area by implicating its members in non-existent criminal activities.

"The government knows where to find illegal guns in this country. Let them go to Kabolet forest -- West Pokot and Turkana districts instead of harassing my constituents," he said.

Reports that communities in the region were rearming ahead of the 2012 General Election have prompted the Provincial Administration to issue a notice to area residents to turn in their arms ahead of an operation to mop up illegal guns.

North Rift deputy provincial commissioner Wilson Wanyanga, speaking during Kenyatta Day celebrations on October 20, warned area residents to surrender illegal guns or be forced to disarm.

At the same time, religious leaders from the area criticised the security arms for failing to crack down on criminals.

"It is regrettable that more than 10 deaths have occurred in Eldoret alone in the recent past, yet police have done very little to contain crime," said the clerics in a statement read by the Rev Geoffrey Songok, moderator, Reformed Church of East Africa.

Others were Bishop Cornelius Korir (Catholic), Bishop Thomas Kogo (ACK), Bishop Julius Maina (Destiny Church) and Rev John Kosgey of African Inland Church (AIC) and representatives from Akorino and PCEA, among other churches.

The criticism follows protests after Vincent Kiprop, 24, a motorcycle taxi operator, was killed in Eldoret and the body dumped in a maize farm.

Three people have so far been arrested following the killing last week.

"The killings have taken place across all communities in the region and it will be wrong for some individuals to give it tribal interpretation," added the Rev Songok.