Kenya pushes for new law to tighten control on weapons-linked goods

Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo. [File, Standard]

Kenya is moving to tighten national security with the Strategic Goods Control Bill, 2025, a proposed law to regulate goods and technology that could be used to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said the law will establish a licensing system, regulate brokers and digital operators, and introduce tough penalties for violations.

"The Bill is the result of more than 10 years of local and international work to stop threats linked to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials," said Omollo.

Speaking in Naivasha at a Senate forum with Senators, the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority and the U.S. Embassy, Omollo explained the law will help Kenya meet obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological Weapons Convention and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540.

Omollo noted Kenya's position as a regional trade and transit hub brings major responsibility. He pointed to past tragedies like the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing and the 2012 Moi Avenue explosion as reminders of the dangers if sensitive materials fall into the wrong hands.

Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority Director General James Keter said the Bill will give Kenya a legal tool to track the full lifecycle of strategic and dual-use goods. "We must stay ahead of the curve as dual-use goods, with both civilian and military applications, become more common," said Keter.

Senate National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations Committee Chairperson Fatuma Dullo welcomed the Bill and called for a clear plan for its rollout. "We must involve the public, especially in Northern Kenya, where cross-border security threats are common, so communities understand the protections the law offers," said Dullo.

Senators Allan Chesang, Jackson Mandago and Boy Juma joined the session, along with Carla Benini, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.

If passed, the Bill will complement Kenya's existing laws like the Nuclear Regulatory Act, Prevention of Terrorism Act and Explosives Act, aligning local legal tools with evolving global security challenges.