Interior CS Fred Matiangi has issued a directive to civilian gun holders and given an ultimatum of 90 days for illegal gun holders to surrender the firearms.
This move comes from a point of deep concern by the procedural improprieties that have crept into the oversight of gun ownership and use by private citizens.
In a statement, by the ministry of interior and coordination, they stated that lapses in the licensure Of firearms dealers, civilian holders, and shooting range owners have led to the illegal possession, transfer, misuse, and trafficking of such weapons posing major threats to national and regional security.
“It goes without saying that this dangerous trend has fuelled various acts of terrorism and crime such as robbery with violence, carjacking, poaching, and cattle rustling among others.
We have taken drastic measures, including the appointment and operationalization Of a new team to the Firearms Licensing Board (FLB) with a view to mopping up a long history of irregularities in the certification of firearms ownership and use by private citizens.” reads statement in part
As from December 17, 2018, the Board has announced that it will begin a 90-day rigorous verification exercise Of all firearms cenificates in the country in full exercise Of its reasonable discretion and mandate.
The Board will also establish, maintain, and monitor a centralized Electronic Register of all private citizens holding firearms.
In the statement, they Interior CS highlighted the following under his recent directive.
- All civilian firearms holders must appear in person before the Firearms Licensing Board (FLB) for mandatory vetting with a view to certifying their suitability to Own guns. They must also avail their weapons for review and certificates for authentication. Upon qualification, they “ill be issued with new smart licenses.
- Anyone in illegal possession Of any firearm must surrender it to the Govemment within the 90-day moratorium failure to which they will be met with the full force Of law
- Any civilian in possession of any prohibited firearm must surrender it to the Government within this period notwithstanding the authenticity Of the licence. Prohibited firearms range from automatic/semi-automatic self-loading military assault rifles to guns that fall outside the functioning cycle described in the Firearms Act, They include G-3, AK-47, M16 rifle, Uzi, Sterling-Patchett MK5, CZ Scorpion Evo 3, and MPS among others. If in doubt about a specific weapon, the holder should seek advice from the nearest police station before the expiry ofthe respite period.
- All preferential certifications and special considerations that might have been accorded earlier for specific civilian firearms holders under whichever circumstances are hereby abrogated with an immediate effect.
Matiangi also added that only the police officers under the National Police Service (NPS), the military personnel under the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), and Officers working under the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and members Of Other security agencies will be exempted from this vetting exercise.
Civilians have been warned that after the March 17, 2019 deadline, all firearms un-vetted certificates held by civilians will be considered expired and thus invalid.
Any private citizen In possession of a firearm or ammunition without certification under the new regime will be deemed to have acquired it illegally, a crime punishable by imprisonment and other penalties provided for in the firearms Act.