Thursday, June 21, 2012

Fears of polls chaos ‘drive gun sales up’


Fears of polls chaos ‘drive gun sales up’

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Internal Security permanent secretary Mutea Iringo. Photo/SALATON NJAU
Internal Security permanent secretary Mutea Iringo. Photo/SALATON NJAU  
By FRED MUKINDA fmukinda@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Wednesday, June 20  2012 at  22:30
IN SUMMARY
  • PS reveals plans to increase penalties for illegal gun holders from 15 years to life in jail
There are nearly 700,000 illegal firearms in Kenya and demand is rising in some parts of the country, according a just-released report.
The demand has gone up as the country approaches next year’s General Election because ordinary Kenyans fear a repeat of the violence triggered by the 2007 polls and are thus preparing to protect themselves, states the Availability of Small Arms and Perceptions of Security In Kenya: An Assessment report.
It estimated that there are between 530,000 to 680,000 firearms in the wrong hands but the figure was not just linked to fear of electoral violence. Law-abiding Kenyans in major urban centres who felt threatened by criminals have also acquired arms.
The report, released on Wednesday, also blames the perennial cattle rustling and inter-clan fights among the pastoral communities in the North Rift and Upper Eastern parts of Kenya for the proliferation with many residents saying they needed to be armed to protect their livestock.
“The election-related violence, mass displacements, and widespread insecurity are believed to have fed a new demand for arms especially in Central and Rift Valley provinces. There are reports of communities seeking to acquire more sophisticated arms and the growth of existing gangs. It confirms the need to put in place well-founded arms control measures alongside peace-building efforts,” part of the report states.
The government commissioned a survey ahead of elections, details of which were used to develop the report, said Internal Security permanent secretary Mutea Iringo.
Parts of Western and South Rift Valley provinces were identified as hot spots because gun ownership and demand in those areas went up.
“The December 2007 elections left marks on the population: Majority of respondents feel insecure during election periods. More than 40 per cent of the respondents felt there is likelihood of them being a victim of violence or crime in the next year,” another part of the report reads.
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The areas in Western and Rift Valley witnessed disarmament operations code-named Operations Okoa Maisha and Dumisha Amani respectively.
“The persisting view that firearms are available in the area is a wake-up call (to the government),” the report adds.
Mr Iringo disclosed that plans were at an advanced stage to amend the Firearms Act and introduce stiffer penalties.
If amended, illegal gun holders are to be jailed for life against the current maximum 15 years imprisonment.
The survey was carried out in 31 counties by the Small Arms Survey, an organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland.

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