NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 5 – Kenya, alongside 14 other member states under the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) headquartered in Nairobi, will jointly present their position on small arms and light weapons at the Fourth Review Conference (RevCon4) in New York in June 2024.
This concerted effort aims to tackle the illegal movement and trade of small arms and light weapons, aligning with the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
The conference targets the challenges posed by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa region.
The Regional Preparatory Meeting on Small Arms and Light Weapons, currently underway in Nairobi, is reviewing efforts such as the destruction of confiscated and obsolete firearm stockpiles and the marking of all state-owned weapons for enhanced traceability.
During the opening session, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo underscored Kenya’s dedication to combating the illegal arms trade.
As of May 2023, the National Police Service (NPS) had marked 98 percent of its firearms stock, with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) achieving a 70 percent marking rate.
Additionally, Kenya has significantly bolstered physical security in conflict-prone areas, enhanced capacity building for law enforcement agencies, and invested in modern border surveillance technologies to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
These efforts aim to address issues like banditry, terrorism, transnational crimes, and criminal gangs.
“The illicit trade in small arms knows no borders and respects no laws, making it imperative for us to strengthen our collaborative efforts at both regional and international levels,” stated Omollo.
The two-day Preparatory Meeting, has brought together government experts from East and Southern Africa, including Botswana, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The meeting aims to assess key achievements in advancing the implementation of Action Programmes and related International Tracing Instruments (ITI) by respective member states while also addressing challenges, emerging risks, and opportunities in their countries.
Discussions will also center on enhancing national and regional cooperation and providing technical assistance to governments to combat the illicit flows of small arms and light weapons.
The outcomes of the Regional Preparatory Meeting will shape the regional position and priorities for the forthcoming Fourth Review Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
