• The government burnt more than 8,000 firearms and 300,000 rounds of ammunition including grenades in Magadi on Tuesday.
• Seizure and destruction is illegal firearms and ammo is intended to keep citizens safe, President Kenyatta said
Image: FILE
President Uhuru Kenyatta held out a six-foot stick on Tuesday and lit a 30-metre fuse of petrol leading to piles of 8,743 firearms and 366,00 rounds of ammunition.
The fuse turned to flames racing toward the stockpile.
The kindling stacked around the wooden rifle stocks, ends in the ground, barrels pointed upward, began to hiss, crackle and smoke.
Then Uhuru, wearing a white shirt and orange reflector jacket, gave a torch to an aide who hurled it into the piles of illegal guns that had been used to threaten, injure and kill.
The ammo started to explode in pear-piercing pops. Then hand grenades went off in huge explosions and a tornado of smoke roiled the air.
The firearms — all kinds of rifles and pistols, ammunition and grenades —had been collected at the GSU training college in Magadi, Kajiado county
Many unregistered guns had been seized in banditry-prone counties. Everyone was ordered to surrender guns and get new 'smart' gun licenses after exhaustive checks.
"We want to ensure that no gun lands in illegal hands," the President said. "Banditry is a crime. We must reject any resemblance of cultural acceptability of illegally owning arms," he said in a speech.
He announced the government would conduct long and rigorous monitoring, searches and background checks before any gun ownership certificates are issued.
"The checks will be deliberate and exhaustive," the head of state said.
The President also warned leaders who encourage the ownership of illegal arms, especially in pastoralist areas, that the government will deal firmly with illegal guns, no one will be spared.
Not the pastoralist in ragged clothes, not the well-heeled politician who Incites him to steal cattle, seize land and cause unrest with other communities.
Interior CS Fred Matiang'i announced disarmament would continue. He said the government seized 50 firearms in the North Rift and 71 in Marsabit on Monday.
Last year, Matiang'i disbanded the Firearms Licensing Board and suspended licenses for dealers and firearm holders pending fresh vetting.
The action was taken after talks with the National Security Advisory Board.
The CS said licensing has been marred by corruption and incompetence, leading to guns being illegally issued to the wrong people.
"A new Licencing board will be constituted soon," Matiang'i said, adding that a digital register for firearm holders will be rolled out.
"Anyone who does not get the new certificate will be regarded as having an illegal firearm,” he said.
The 'smart licences' will make it easier to retrieve details, thus facilitating investigations into violent crimes involving guns across the country.
The President said, "Our ultimate vision is to have background checks processed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and monitor the activities of prohibited persons as far as gun ownership is concerned."
Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko, Attorney General Paul Kihara and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai were among officials present.
Kenya’s history of publicly burning illegal firearms dates back to 2003. The country has adhered to its UN commitments to eradicate the trade in small arms and light weapons.
(Edited by V. Graham)