Small and light weapons and conflict in Kenya

Abstract

The availability of small arms and light weapons and its misuse have been a problem in Kenya for many years. The post-2007 election violence increased the urgency of small arms reduction efforts. While the government has made progress, law enforcement efforts to control the proliferation of small arms still face considerable challenges. The government and other stakeholders have brought about initiatives in peace and security in which the major one was the creation of the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons (KNFP) as an interagency directorate within the Office of the President, which was instrumental in formulating the Kenya National Action Plan for Arms Control and Management in 2006.This paper seeks to identify the sources of small arms proliferation and its effects in Kenya and the different initiatives put in place by the Kenyan government to curb this menace. It is believed the geographical location of Kenya and politics are the main factors influencing the proliferation of small arms. Weapons are locally made by the indigenous people in Kenya and some of them are imported from other countries. Also, weapons stolen from security personnel have contributed to arms proliferation in Kenya. Kenya’s relationship with its neighbors such as Sudan, Ethiopia and some of the countries in the horn of Africa will also be looked at as it is believed most of the small arms come into Kenya through these countries and this contributes to arms increase.