Interior CS Fred Matiang’i on Friday disbanded the Firearms Licensing and Control Board and ordered that all licensed guns be reverted.
Speaking during the orientation of new IPOA Board Members, the CS explained that the changes were to be undertaken with an aim of reconstituting a new body.
“I have disbanded the Firearms Licensing and Control Board with the aim of reconstituting a new one. ecWe are in the process of reverting all Firearms in the view of security and safety,” he stated. He stated that the Ministry was in the process of building a solid platform so as to move the security sector in the right direction.
“This is something we have to learn as Kenyans – we can hold different mandate and perspective on things but we can still work together for the greater good.
“Half of the challenges we have would be solved if we changed our attitude- The time has come for us to change our attitude in the manner in which we work.”
The disbandment comes in the wake of the rise of unregulated guns in the country. Businessman Jimmy Wanjigi and Migori governor Okoth Obado are some of the people who have been arrested over illegal firearms.
CS Matiang’i urged Kenyans to change their negative attitude towards the police service. “We need to walk away from the populist stereotypical way of looking at different sectors like the police – things like police are the ultimate sinners and all holy people are elsewhere. It does not work that way!” he added.