Private firearms holders brandishing their weapons in social places such as nightclubs, drinking joints, shopping malls, among other places will have their ownership certificates withdrawn, Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai, said on Friday.
Speaking at Harambee House in a press conference, Mutyambai further directed that private gun owners must always show the certificates of ownership to security personnel manning the social facilities before accessing the centers.
The directive takes effect on August 1, 2019.
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“If the private firearms holders fail to comply with the directives, then their certificates of ownership will be withdrawn,” said Mutyambai.
The IG said law enforcement officers allowed to be in possession of firearms will be required to show notices of appointment when accessing the public places.
Mutyambai’s directives come as Interior minister Fred Matiang’i announced Friday that the number of licensed firearms dealers in Kenya has been reduced from 33 to 20 after the licenses of 13 dealers were revoked.
Matiang’i further said there will be no registration of new firearms dealers, at least in the coming months.
“It is not beneficial to the country to allow every Tom, Dick and Harry to issue guns,” said the minister.
Matiang’i said there are 4, 407 firearms in the hands of unregistered holders.
The CS says the illegal gun owners will be traced and dealt with according to the law.
Matiang’i, however, said there is a grace period of seven days for the illegal gun holders to voluntarily surrender the weapons.
“We will look for the 4, 407 illegal gun owenrs,” said the CS.
The minister said if any gun holder fails to show documents of ownership, then he or she should be reported to the nearest police station and be “treated as a dangerous criminal”.
