Nairobi — Pastoral communities in northern Kenya are apprehensive over the disarmament expected to start any time now.

A 70-day amnesty to surrender illegal arms by the pastoralists lapsed at the weekend, with 1,141 guns and 14,980 bullets having been handed over.

The government has also repossessed more than 500 guns initially issued to home guards in the region. This will ensure no one will be having a government-issued gun when the operation begins.

Residents of Archer's Post in Samburu East District fear the disarmament might be violent.

"We have surrendered all the guns we had but we are afraid police might turn out to be brutal when conducting the operation in the region. We do not want our people to be harassed or tortured as security personnel search for illegal guns they suspect we have hidden," said Mr Rontele Lemarampa.

"The government should protect us since we have given up our weapons, which we used to protect our animals," he added.

By Saturday evening, residents in Isiolo had returned 450 guns and more than 12,000 bullets.

In the larger Marsabit District, 633 guns and 1,840 bullets have been surrendered, while in Samburu East, 182 guns and 300 bullets have been returned .

Internal Security minister George Saitoti last month extended the amnesty period after pleas by local MPs to give the pastoralists more time to surrender the weapons.