This archive report was first published on 6 July 2019.
On July 6, 2019, Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai issued a stern warning to unlicensed civilian gun holders, ordering the arrest of 4,293 individuals who failed to surrender their firearms within a seven-day ultimatum.
According to Mutyambai, the list of 4,293 unlicensed gun holders has been submitted to all Regional Commanders, who have been directed to begin recovering the firearms and making arrests with immediate effect.
Those who fail to surrender their guns will be treated as armed and dangerous criminals, Mutyambai declared.
On February 4th this year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i ordered the Civilian Firearms Licensing Board to commence a rigorous vetting exercise of all firearms dealers, civilian firearm holders, and shooting range owners.
As a result of the vetting exercise, 6,958 registered gun owners were cleared, while 1,493 firearms and 21,732 assorted ammunition were confiscated.
Despite the warning, 50 firearms have so far been surrendered to Police Stations countrywide, and 64 to the Firearms Licensing Bureau.
