President William Ruto on Friday presided over the destruction of more than 6,000 illegal firearms at the National Police Leadership Academy in Ngong, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons across the country.
The event, which marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s national disarmament efforts, saw firearms recovered between 2022 and 2025 rendered unusable. According to the government, a large portion of the weapons were voluntarily surrendered by civilians under amnesty and community disarmament programmes, while others were seized during targeted security operations.
Addressing security officials and dignitaries at the event, President Ruto highlighted the grave dangers posed by illegal firearms, stating, “A firearm in the wrong hands is not just a potent weapon; it is a direct assault on the safety of our citizens, the stability of our society, and the peace we have worked so diligently to build. In the hands of criminals, such a firearm enables lawlessness, escalates violence, and undermines the rule of law.”
Ruto stressed the need for regional cooperation in tackling the widespread issue of arms trafficking in Eastern Africa, adding that insecurity in one country inevitably affects its neighbors. “If we sort out insecurity in one country, we sort out the region,” he said, calling for harmonised policies and a unified regional approach to disarmament.
The destruction ceremony is part of broader continental efforts under the African Union’s “Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2030” initiative. President Ruto commended the work of the Regional Centre for Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA), which is celebrating 20 years of coordinating arms control strategies in the region. “The Eastern Africa region remains awash with illegal small arms and light weapons, many of which can easily cross our borders and infiltrate our communities,” he warned.
The President also urged those still in possession of illegal firearms to voluntarily surrender them, cautioning that such weapons pose more harm than protection. “An illegal firearm makes you less safe; it compromises your safety rather than securing it,” he said.
Beyond disarmament, President Ruto reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to police reforms. He pledged to modernise police equipment, improve officers’ welfare, and root out corruption and abuse within the ranks. “We will make sure we professionalize the police service and eliminate policemen and women who abuse the authority they have,” he declared.
He further assured officers that the government is working to enhance their conditions of service. “We are ensuring every policeman and woman, as they discharge their noble duties of protecting, are adequately covered by insurance and supported with a proper housing program,” the President said.
In conclusion, President Ruto pledged to uphold the rights of citizens and hold rogue officers accountable. “We will protect citizens from rogue police officers and hold them to account,” he affirmed.
The event underscores Kenya’s ongoing efforts to foster peace, enhance public security, and uphold the rule of law through coordinated action at both national and regional levels.
Written By Rodney Mbua