Murkomen: Regional unity needed to win war on illegal firearms

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called for a coordinated regional approach to address the proliferation of illicit firearms, cautioning that isolated national efforts are insufficient to combat the rising insecurity in the region.

Speaking during the destruction of over 1,000 recovered illegal firearms in Ngong on Friday, Murkomen stated that Kenya’s progress in disarmament ought to be complemented by efforts from neighbouring countries.

“If we want to sort out the problem of proliferation of small arms and the insecurity problems in our region, in all 15 countries, it was discovered that it was an exercise in futility to do a disarmament in one country and leave the neighboring country,” said Murkomen.

“A regional approach towards disarmament and confiscation of illegal firearms from citizens is the only way that can make our country safe. It is a more strategic approach to make the region safe as well,” he added

He praised Operation Maliza Uhalifu for its success in reducing incidents of banditry by up to 70% since President William Ruto took office. Murkomen noted that the destroyed weapons had caused countless lives lost, created widowed families, and displaced communities.

“Since President William Ruto took office, matters of banditry have been reduced by 65% to 70%. This is as a result of the investment made by the government towards matters security, including purchase of modern equipment for the police and putting resources to to establish more formed-up units in different regions,” he said

The Technical Advisory Committee meeting of the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), marking two decades of collaboration to curb small arms proliferation has been happening in Nairobi ahead of today’s burning firearms. Murkomen has also called for renewed commitment to strengthen RECSA in addressing emerging threats to peace and security.