This archive report was first published on 30 June 2019.
On June 30, 2019, Felix Otieno, a 29-year-old pharmacy student from Kenyatta University, lost his life after being shot twice in his girlfriend's house. The incident occurred while Otieno was visiting his girlfriend, and the assailants escaped the scene, leaving behind a trail of tragedy.
The rise of gun violence in Kenya has become a pressing concern, with innocent lives being lost due to careless gun holders. In response, Interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang'i has issued a directive, ordering 4,407 gun holders to surrender their firearms within the next week. Those who fail to comply will be declared armed and dangerous, allowing the police to use force when disarming them.
This directive aims to restore sanity to the Firearms Licensing Board, which has been plagued by allegations of corruption, allowing criminals to bribe their way into acquiring firearms illegally. The move is also intended to reduce civilian-related deaths from confrontations, such as the one that claimed Felix Otieno's life.
According to reports, only 70 percent of registered gun holders showed up for a vetting exercise in February, highlighting the need for stricter measures to prevent the proliferation of illegal firearms.
