Over 45 mop ups, yet no end to illegal weapons

By Kenfrey Kiberenge and Joe Kiarie

A Government operation to mop up more than 130,000 deadly and illicit firearms is on.

The exercise is significant in the war against crime especially cattle rustling, but opinion is divided on its success.

Security agencies are steadfast that the operation –– authorised by President Kibaki this month –– will be successful. Experts have, however, poked holes at the exercise saying it will be no different from the past 46 similar operations.

Head of the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons (KNFPSALW) David Kimaiyo estimates there are more than 100,000 illicit firearms. These range from military weapons like AK-47 and G-3 to light weapons such as pistols, Mark III, home made guns, and toy pistols.

Police check weapons collected in a past disarmament. Last month, President Kibaki ordered a mop up of illegal arms.

Speaking when he attended a church service on October 12 at the Holy Family Basilica, Kibaki directed security forces to embark on national disarmament to mop up illicit arm.

Divergent opinions

Speaking to The Standard on Sunday, police deputy spokesman Charles Owino said: "It must work this time." He admitted previous exercises have been futile.

"In some instances, somebody will give us a firearm that is not working and keep the one that is functioning," said Owino.

He said the State has put in place measures to ensure the exercise succeeds. But experts are pessimistic. They say the mission may backfire.

Phillip Ochieng, a conflict resolution officer at PeaceNet-Kenya, says the disarmament is not well planned.

"There has been 46 government disarmament initiatives so far, but all we can see is influx of illegal arms. This is because the Government approaches disarmament as an event rather than a process," says Ochieng’.

Rate of sucess

Mr Sam Kona, a conflict resolution specialist, says the disarmament campaign has low chances of success like similar initiatives in the past.

"This is because the Government ignores the political class and the affected local communities. Again, these communities possess arms because they feel insecure. They know they can be attacked any time, yet the Government is doing nothing to offer security," he says.

But Kimaiyo says that the exercise is voluntary. He says there is amnesty on anyone who returns illegal arms.

"There will be no use of force but, those who fail to give up their arms shall be treated as criminals and we shall go for them," he says.

Kona says the other shortcoming is random disarmament, which gives some communities advantage.

"You cannot just disarm certain areas and leave out others. This mission should be both comprehensive and simultaneous," he says.

Kimaiyo says the exercise will not target specific communities. "Actually, this operation is not only targeting the pastoralist communities but also urban areas such as Nairobi," he says.

Way forward

While addressing the First Committee of the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations Regional Centre on Small Arms Executive-Secretary Francis Sang, alluded to the fact that the Government has come to a consensus with communities on best ways of mopping up weapons.

Sang said the disarmament has been preceded by a study in the affected parts of the country on the best methods for disarmament and ensuring sustainable development among disarmed groups.

"Disarmament methods have been agreed upon with affected communities to ensure success of the exercise," said Sang.

Last month, the national focal point and the Institute for Security Studies launched a survey seeking views on how to disarm pastoralists in the North Rift.

The study targets communities in areas near the Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia borders.