What progress has Kenya made in implementing the United Nations Programme of Action (UNPoA) on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)? This report from the Kenya National Focal Point (KNFP) on Illicit SALW outlines the actions Kenya has taken to implement the UNPoA. It reports that the KNFP remains firmly on track in implementing the provisions of the UNPoA.
Long porous borders, regional instability, a large refugee population and vast areas that cannot be policed properly have contributed to SALW proliferation in Kenya. SALW have fuelled urban crime, cattle rustling and ethnic conflict. The net effect has been high security costs, underdevelopment of arid areas inhabited by armed pastoral communities, and instability arising from cross border pastoral conflicts. Recent cases of terrorism and piracy have further strengthened the resolve of the Government of Kenya to work to address the problem of illicit SALW.
In order to address the above challenges, Kenya reaffirms its commitment to implementation of the UNPoA. Kenya has implemented a number of measures to address the SALW problem:
- The KNFP was established in 2003, establishing a focal point secretariat with a focal point committee bringing together government and civil society. The KNFP has held meetings regularly and recorded a number of achievements.
- Kenya has a stringent legal regime when it comes to arms. Nevertheless, measures are underway to ensure compliance with the UNPoA, including a national policy on arms management.
- The Government of Kenya has been working with neighbouring states to reduce the availability of arms to nomadic pastoral communities. It has developed a joint disarmament programme with Uganda to restore peace among these communities.
- Kenya has established a multi-pronged community-based strategy to discourage gun culture. Measures include public awareness campaigns, community safety initiatives and creating alternative means of livelihood.
- Kenya has developed a National Action Plan (NAP) for SALW. As part of the NAP the KNFP has developed a draft arms management policy, while the Government of Kenya has formally adopted community policing.
Kenya continues to take action against illicit SALW at the sub-regional, regional and global levels:
- At the regional level Kenya participated in the African Small Arms Experts conference in 2005. It also participated in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development which recognised SALW as a development issue.
- At the sub-regional level, Kenya was among the first countries to ratify the Nairobi Protocol. It has continued to participate in the International Conference on the Great Lakes Process. It also remains involved in the Sudanese and Somali peace processes.
- Through the Regional Centre for Small Arms, Kenya, as one of the Nairobi Protocol countries, has developed guidelines for global arms transfers. With the UK, it co-hosted a conference to advance prospects for an international agreement on SALW.
- Kenya continues to appeal for international support, particularly for developmental interventions to address SALW. It continues to work with the UN Development Programme and other partners to address the developmental dimension of SALW.
