This archive report was first published on 2 July 2019.
As the Government continues to crack down on unvetted gun holders, a mystery surrounding the whereabouts of over 4,407 individuals who failed to undergo the mandatory vetting process has emerged.
According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, the group could be among those who had been issued with fake certificates by a cartel operating at the Firearms Licensing Board.
Regulations require each licensed gun owner to have a file, but the system was manipulated, resulting in several people sharing the same file and similar serial numbers. This led to the production of parallel firearm registers-booklets that authorized individuals to purchase guns and ammunition before receiving their certificates.
With the old firearm registers set to become obsolete by August 1, when new digital identification documents are rolled out, Matiang'i has given the affected gun holders a week to submit their weapons for verification.
Those who fail to comply will be treated as 'armed and dangerous' criminals, pursued by the police. The CS stated, 'Out of the 13,805 registered firearm holders, 9,398 were vetted while 4,407 did not turn up. I have asked the Inspector General of police to look for them.'
President Kenyatta had ordered the vetting, which was conducted in three phases between February 4 and May 30, 2019, to address procedural improprieties in the issuance and licensing of firearms.
The vetting aimed to create a comprehensive digital record of licensed firearms, making it easier to solve crimes. Matiang'i emphasized, 'The reason His Excellency the President ordered this to be done and why the National Security Advisory Committee and other Security Agencies have been keen to ensure that this exercise is completed, is because we want to deal with the various aspects related to crime in the country.'
Of the cleared firearms, 9,586 were held by civilians, with Nairobi having the highest number at 4,008. The Board certified 6,958 firearm holders across the country, with Nairobi again leading the way with 2,733.
