The police have been issued with new and sophisticated guns to fight crime in the latest move to modernise the country’s security agencies.
The project will see the over 65,000 general duty police officers and their 25,000 border patrol and anti-stock theft unit counterparts armed with the latest model of weapons.
Early last year, both Kenya Police Service (KPS) and Administration Police Service (APS) started receiving new Spanish made CZ Scorpion EVO 3 A1 airsoft rifles and Belgian-made FN SCAR rifles to replace the aging and cumbersome German-made G3 and MP5 rifles.
Police spokesman Charles Owino says the government has put in a lot of money for police modernisation, mostly in technology and weaponry to the advantage of officers, especially in preventive and investigative capacities.
“The world is changing and therefore the need for law enforcement agencies to embrace the change and move with speed,” Owino says.
In as from February this year, police officers on patrol, at roadblocks and those guarding strategic buildings and institutions have been armed with either beige or black fold-able butt semi-automatic guns that are more convenient and practical either on crowded streets or rural areas.
Introduced in 2009, the CZ Scorpion EVO 3 A1 is a 9mm select fire variant, making it a semi-automatic sub-machine gun. It is a prototype of the Slovakian Laugo sub-machine gun.
Described as simple and reliable, the 26.5 inches long gun gives the user select fire switch from semi-automatic, three round bursts or fully automatic.
It is said to be a highly accurate 1,100-rounds-per-minute weapon perfect for hostage rescue and SWAT missions or special operations.
The standard rifle comes with folding adjustable and fully removable stock/butt for easy transport.
Its hand guard is lined with rails to accommodate grips, telescopic sights, flashlights and lasers with a 19 nine millimetre bullet magazine.
Its magazine is positioned for easy and fast reloads and can easily be detached when required.
The polymer hand guard helps insulate the user’s hand from barrel heat, especially during continuous automatic fire.
The FN SCAR (Special Operation Forces Combat Assault Rifle) is a 2009 manufactured semi-automatic rifle described as effective and lethal.
The rifle, designed in Belgium and manufactured in California, US, features an upper picatinny rail for optional day or night sighting systems and lower and side rails for light, laser and fore grip as well as a grenade launcher.
It also has a sling, bipod, carrying bag and blank firing system.
Retailing at about $3,099 (Sh310,000) per piece, the FN SCAR is lighter than the 1950s select fire battle German made Heckler & Koch G3 rifle, which is priced at $580 (Sh 58,000) and has been in use by Kenya’s police for decades.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Special Forces has been the only African military unit to use the FN Herstal SCAH-CAL assault rifle.