Firearm News
Kenyan Cop Shot, Gun Stolen After Weapon Seized From Gang
10 February 2014
Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
A traffic police officer was Monday morning shot and wounded in the head before he was robbed of his AK-47 rifle by gunmen on a motorbike in Kombani, Kwale County.
Police suspect the attackers were followers of Somalia's Al-Shabaab gang. Another female officer was slightly injured after she was wrestled by the gunmen who escaped after the incident along the Lunga Lunga highway.
Area police boss Richard Muguai said police have launched investigation and a hunt to... (GunPolicy.org)
Somali Man Arrested for Smuggling Illegal Handguns in Kenya
31 January 2014
Nairobian (Kenya)
A man was arrested in Lunga Lunga for smuggling illegal weapons.
Abdillahi Edin Adano was seized with two pistols and 20 rounds of ammunition that he intended to sell.
Police laid a trap after getting tips from the public that the suspect had landed in Eastleigh with the cache. The seized man allegedly planned to sell the guns in Lunga Lunga.
Last year, six firearms and several rounds of ammunitions were recovered from the same slums where four suspects were... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Officials Admit Civilians 'Not Vetted Before Getting Guns'
9 January 2014
Standard (Nairobi)
The Chief Firearms Licensing Officer in the police force, Francis Mwangi Wanjohi has revealed there is no thorough vetting done before guns are issued to civilians.
Wanjohi blamed the situation on the coming in of the new Constitution and admitted a number of applicants had been given licences to own guns before being vetted as required by law. He said unlike in the past when applicants used to be vetted through a rigorous process, the situation changed with the... (GunPolicy.org)
Tanzania,Congo (DRC),Somalia,Mozambique,Kenya
Assault Weapons From Mozambique Used by Tanzanian Poachers
30 December 2013
Independent (UK)
The wildest sound on the savannah is not the lion's roar, but the elephant's trumpet. When he senses a lurking poacher, the elephant screams, loud and shrill, to alert the herd and scare his enemy.
The poacher, standing only a few feet away takes aim and fires. The elephant screams again, before he collapses in a heap. One bullet will rarely kill an adult elephant, and it takes many minutes before the life drains away.
Military weapons such as AK-47s are increasingly... (GunPolicy.org)
Goat Market in Kenya Becomes 'Supermarket' of Illegal Guns
8 December 2013
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
On November 14, officers from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit (SPRU), acting on a tip-off, trailed a white saloon car on suspicion that its occupants were planning to rob a bank.
After a dramatic chase, the officers challenged its occupants to stop at Kiamaiko.
The officers ransacked the car and found an arsenal of weapons among them AK-47s, pistols, ammunition, police uniform and walkie-talkies. One of the four suspects arrested was a former administration police... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Targets Rising Gun Crime Involving Security Forces
26 November 2013
Sabahi (Washington DC)
NAIROBI — Embarrassed by a slew of recent high-profile crimes involving Kenyan security forces, the government is mulling ways to better monitor current and former members of the police and military to combat this growing and alarming trend.
"The police will not allow these waves of crime to continue," Nairobi County Police Chief Benson Kibue told Sabahi. "We will continue to fight against organised crime by ex-policemen and military officers without fear or favour,... (GunPolicy.org)
South Sudan,Somalia,Burundi,Liberia,Ghana,United States,Europe,Zimbabwe,Uganda,Tanzania,Sudan,Nigeria,Namibia,Kenya,Ethiopia,Africa
How Disarmament in Africa Got More Complicated
5 November 2013
IPI Global Observatory
Africa is ground zero in the international debate on controlling the small arms and light weapons trade. For more than a decade, diplomatic activity to contain arms and ammunition transfers has been animated by a concern with instability and contagion generated by the continent's many wars. Leading think tanks, research groups, and advocacy organizations have repeatedly drawn attention to the way the burden of armed violence in Africa is a product of low-tech assault... (GunPolicy.org)
Some Kenyan Preachers Call for Govt to Issue Them With Guns
30 October 2013
Star (Kenya)
Kenyans [are] divided over calls by Mombasa preachers to be issued with guns to guard themselves and their flock. Calls by pastors in Mombasa to have them armed with AK47 rifles continue to attract mixed reactions across the country.
Sheikh Juma Ngao, who is the Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council chairman, said it is a good idea to arm clerics. He however said not all clerics should be armed as some clerics are criminals hiding behind religion.
"Not all clerics... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda,Somalia,Colombia,Kenya,United States
Interpol Chief Suggests Armed Citizenry to Counter Terrorism
21 October 2013
ABC News (USA)
Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said today the U.S. and the rest of the democratic world is at a security crossroads in the wake of last month's deadly al-Shabab attack at a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya – and suggested an answer could be in arming civilians.
In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Noble said there are really only two choices for protecting open societies from attacks like the one on Westgate mall where so-called "soft targets" are hit:... (GunPolicy.org)
Peace Activists Seek to Curb Proliferation of Illicit Firearms in Kenya
19 October 2013
Coast Week (Kenya)
NAKURU, Kenya - Recurrent attacks in some parts of Kenya especially in the northern and coastal regions have caused major security shake-ups in the East African nation with the government reinforcing security in the affected areas.
During the attacks, people have died, livestock - which to some is the main source of livelihood, have been killed or stolen and property worth of millions of shillings lost.
Due to fear, some members of the local communities have moved... (GunPolicy.org)
Drug Abuse, Illicit Guns Threaten Security, Youths in Kenya
17 October 2013
Xinhua
KITALE, Kenya - Kenya has deployed three special security units to crackdown on increased use of drugs and illicit guns threatening security and spoiling unemployed youths in counties in northwest Kenya.
The move followed concerns from tribal leaders over the widespread drug abuse and existence of illegal guns fueling crime and deteriorating security.
Trans-Nzoia County Police Commander Lillian Okembo said on Wednesday that security forces have been posted to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Worker Shocked After Finding Three Assault Weapons at Kenya Golf Club
9 October 2013
Standard (Nairobi)
NAIROBI, Kenya - A worker was shocked when he discovered three AK 47 rifles and more than 80 bullets hidden in a bush near a popular golf club in Nairobi's Karen area.
The rifles with 87 bullets were discovered on Tuesday evening by a worker at the golf club hidden in the bush while covered with clothes and a bag.
Police say they are yet to know the owners of the luggage believed to have hidden them there after using them in unknown incident.
Langata head of CID... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenyan Police Start Illegal Gun Recovery Campaign in Refugee Camp
13 September 2013
Xinhua
GARISSA, Kenya - Kenyan authorities have started up recovery of illegal small arms and light weapons which have been fuelling the insecurity in northern Kenya, with the latest seizure of a gun and 48 bullets in Dadaab refugee camp on Thursday.
Regional Criminal Investigations (CID) Commander Musa Yego said the weapons were found in the world's largest refugee settlement in a search conducted by local police. A suspect was arrested in the process.
"We will not relent... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Police Out to Stop Guns From Uganda
4 September 2013
Star (Kenya)
Police in Bungoma have moved to curb the influx of illegal firearms from the neigbouring Uganda. Speaking to the Star yesterday, county commissioner Mohamed Maalim said the firearms from the Uganda are the main cause of insecurity in the [county].
"We have instituted measures that will ensure thorough checks at our border points of Malaba and Lwakhakha to ensure that firearms are not sneaked from Uganda,"he said.
Guns are easily available in Uganda with security... (GunPolicy.org)
Thousands of Guns Create Insecurity, Kenyan MPs Support Disarmament
23 July 2013
Star (Kenya)
MPs from Pokot and Turkana counties want communities in the region to surrender illegal arms in order to help end insecurity in the region.
The legislators say the more than 50,000 small arms held by herders in the region have been a major source of insecurity and killings of innocent people during cattle rustling attacks, a practice which the 14 MPs have resolved to eradicate. They made the declaration at a meeting in Eldoret yesterday.
"We are now united as leaders... (GunPolicy.org)
Syria,Sudan,South Africa,Kenya
South Africa: Gun Dealer Sold Arms to Conflict Zones
20 July 2013
Independent/IOL Daily News (South Africa) / Saturday Star
JOHANNESBURG - A director of a Joburg gun shop was allegedly involved in importing military weapons for "special forces" and then selling them to countries in conflict.
This emerged in a state affidavit placed before the Lenasia Magistrate's Court on Friday.
In the bail application of Gareth De Nysschen, a director at Dave Sheer Guns, the State indicated that the business had been investigated by military intelligence for two years.
De Nysschen was arrested last week... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Independent/IOL Daily News (South Africa) / Saturday Star
Kenyans Refuse to Surrender Guns in Amnesty Campaign
4 July 2013
Star (Kenya)
Tana Delta residents are yet to surrender illegal firearms since the government issued an amnesty last year. Authorities said no one has voluntarily surrendered any weapon including those stolen from police officers killed in Kilelengwani.
Area Deputy County Commissioner Mike Kimoko said they have begun negotiations with the locals to enlighten them on the danger of having the firearms in wrong hands.
Kimoko said in a telephone interview that they were optimistic of... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Considers New Gun Control Measures After Fatal Crime Shootout
21 June 2013
Global Times (China)
Kenyan police on Thursday night killed 9 gangsters and recovered five firearms, three vehicles and mobile phones after a fierce shootout at residential estate in Nairobi.
Regional police commander Benson Kibui said they had received a tip off from members of the public and dispatched police officers from the Special Crime Prevention Unit who trailed the gangsters and eventually shot them dead at Mwiki estate.
"We killed nine robbers on Thursday evening and recovered... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Police say Crime Guns from Uganda
13 June 2013
Star (Kenya)
KITALE - Kitale deputy police boss Duncan Nguthu has said two guns and 150 rounds of ammunition recovered from three criminal suspects killed at Kiminini recently came from Uganda.
Addressing mourners at Kamukuywa during the burial ceremony of a security officer, Nguthu said the equipment had not been used.
Last week, three suspected criminals were lynched and their bodies burnt beyond recognition by the public. Nguthu asked leaders and chiefs to revive community... (GunPolicy.org)
40 Guns Still Missing After Mass Killings in Kenya
30 May 2013
Standard (Nairobi)
KENYA - Six months after the massacre of 42 policemen in Samburu in an ambush by cattle rustlers, security agents are yet to recover 40 firearms stolen from the deceased.
Not a single firearm has been surrendered following an amnesty issued by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo months ago to residents in possession of illegal weapons and those stolen during the ambush.
The Standard has established that bandits are roaming the area freely and eight cattle... (GunPolicy.org)