Mutyambai says 9,398 were vetted, in which 1,493 firearms were withdrawn and licenses cancelled. Photo/MOSES MUOKI.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 28 – More than 4,000 firearm holders who did not register their weapons during the recently concluded vetting have been ordered to report to the nearest police station within a week.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi on Friday said the 4,407 firearm holders are required to seek certificates, failure to which they will be considered criminals for holding unlicensed guns.
Matiangi said 9,398 were vetted during the vetting, in which 1,493 firearms were withdrawn and licenses cancelled.
“The exercise was well concluded but there are people out there who purport to be firearm holders, but they did not show up for registration. I want to warn the 4,407 that if they do not show up for registration within 7 days, we will consider them dangerous and stern action will be taken against them as required by the law,” Matiangi warned.
With the conclusion of the vetting exercise, the government said it has introduced tough measures to regulate gun ownership in Kenya.
“All private firearm holders will be expected to show their certificate of ownership wherever they go from August,” said Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai.
Further, the police boss cautioned gun owners from reckless display of guns.
“Any firearm which will be found being misused either the holders displaying their firearms in clubs or unnecessarily; those firearms will be confiscated. So, we expect all private firearm holders to adhere to all the regulations set out by firearm issuing board,” Mutyambai said.
In the meantime, over 13,800 firearm holders have been registered in the recently concluded vetting exercise by the Firearms Licensing Board.
Matiangi stated that only 20-gun dealers have been cleared to operate in the country.
While receiving a final report on the exercise, he stated that the decision was arrived at after the licenses of thirteen dealers were revoked.
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