Attention gun holders! Matiang’i wants your weapons

Image result for matiang'i

 

Cabinet Secretary for Interior Dr. Fred Matiang’i has today disbanded the Firearms Licensing Board. The CS said that the decision to disband the board was reached after consultation with the National Security Advisory Committee on Friday.

 

“I have disbanded the Firearms Licensing and Control Board with the aim of reconstituting a new one as part of a process of vetting afresh all issued Firearms to enhance required standards of security and safety across the country. #SecurityKE,” read a tweet from Matiang’i.

The CS directed that all licensed guns in the country be returned arguing that the licensing of guns has in the past been marred by corruption and incompetence, leading to guns being in illegal hand.

 

Image result for give me your guns meme

 

Speaking at the orientation of the new IPOA board, Matiang’i said that the changes should be undertaken with aim of putting up a new body.

“We are in the process of reverting all Firearms in the view of security and safety,” he said.

The CS also announced that a new board would be constituted soon adding that a digital register for firearm holders is expected to be rolled out soon.

“Anyone who does not get the new certificate will be regarded as having an illegal firearm,” said the CS.

 

Related image

 

Matiang’i also called for a comprehensive audit on the Kenya Police Reserve and the MPR to know who owns guns. He said that the ministry would come up with a new curriculum and framework to train KPRs on how to handle guns.

“In the next one year, we will have a record of anyone who is a KPR so that we do not have militias in the name of KPRs and MPRs because firearms could be misused,” said Matiang’i.

“When we give guns to people who support our efforts, especially in stock theft prone areas, we will need to train them so they do not go overboard,” he added.

 

Related image

 

His call to disband the Firearms Licensing and Control Board comes just a day after Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinnet and the Attorney General, Paul Kihara, were sued over police killings by a group of 22 women who claimed that they have lost their husbands and sons as a result of extra-judicial killings.

The women listed IPOA and the Director of Public Prosecution as interested parties in the case.

 

Do you think the repossession of guns will help reduce crime in Kenya?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *