NAIROBI, Kenya, June 17 – Members of Parliament have backed a proposal to establish a national digital tracking system for police firearms in a move aimed at curbing theft, misuse and unauthorized movement of weapons within the National Police Service.
The proposal was presented to the National Assembly through a petition filed by Emmanuel Kelly Ojoo, who called for urgent reforms in the management and monitoring of police firearms amid rising cases of attacks on police stations and theft of weapons.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula informed lawmakers that the petition seeks the creation of a National Police Firearms Digital Detection and Tracking System to enhance accountability and strengthen national security.
According to the petitioner, the increasing theft of police firearms poses a major threat to both officers and civilians while undermining public confidence in security agencies.
Ojoo noted that many police stations still rely on manual systems to issue and manage firearms, making it difficult to detect unauthorized access, movement or tampering in real time.
He further argued that the absence of an encrypted nationwide alert system delays emergency response and recovery efforts whenever firearms are irregularly moved or stolen.
The petition proposes amendments to the National Police Service Act, the Firearms Act and other related laws to pave the way for a secure digital firearm-tracking framework within the police service.
Among the proposed reforms are biometric-controlled smart armouries, encrypted real-time tracking technology, automated alert systems and dedicated budget allocations to support implementation.
The petitioner also called for legal safeguards to ensure officers are not unfairly blamed for technological failures within the system.
Speaker Wetang’ula confirmed that the petition met the constitutional threshold and referred it to the Public Petitions Committee for consideration and a report to the House.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle welcomed the proposal, saying technology could significantly improve accountability, oversight and operational efficiency within the police service.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie said modern technology offers practical solutions for tracking firearms and other police equipment.
“Today’s technology allows effective tracking and we must thank the petitioner for bringing this matter before the House,” Kiarie said.
He urged the Public Petitions Committee to work jointly with the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation as well as the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security to ensure comprehensive review of the proposal.
Kiarie noted that his constituency had previously experienced incidents involving attacks on police stations and theft of police equipment, underscoring the need for stronger safeguards.
Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba also supported the initiative, saying the system could help address cases where firearms are either lost during attacks or allegedly rented out for criminal activities.
“This will go a long way in ensuring that firearms remain in the hands of the correct persons and can be tracked at any time,” Milemba said.
He pointed to successful digitization efforts at Kenyatta National Hospital as an example of how government institutions can leverage technology to improve accountability and efficiency.
Speaker Wetang’ula directed the Leader of the Majority Party to facilitate collaboration among the relevant parliamentary committees to explore possible legislative measures.
“It makes a lot of sense,” the Speaker said.
If adopted, the proposal could significantly transform police firearm management in Kenya, with supporters arguing that digital monitoring systems would reduce losses, improve accountability and strengthen public safety.
