Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has emphasized the urgent need for a unified regional strategy to tackle the escalating problem of illegal firearms across Eastern Africa, arguing that individual country efforts are no longer sufficient to ensure lasting peace and security.
Speaking in Ngong on Friday during the ceremonial destruction of over 1,000 confiscated illegal weapons, Murkomen underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration. He warned that disarmament efforts carried out in isolation will continue to be undermined by porous borders and the unchecked flow of small arms between neighboring states.
“You cannot succeed in disarming one country while the one next door remains awash with guns,” Murkomen said. “We must think regionally, act collectively, and pursue a joint strategy if we’re serious about stabilizing the region and making our communities safer.”
Murkomen commended Kenya’s ongoing efforts, especially the government’s Operation Maliza Uhalifu, which he credited with a significant drop in banditry since President William Ruto assumed office. According to him, targeted investments in police equipment and the formation of specialized security units have contributed to a 65–70% reduction in violent incidents in some of the most affected areas.
“These weapons have destroyed lives, orphaned children, and uprooted families. What we’re doing here today is not just symbolic it’s a statement that we will not tolerate lawlessness,” he added.
The event coincided with a key gathering of security experts in Nairobi for the Technical Advisory Committee meeting of the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), marking 20 years of regional cooperation to curb arms trafficking. Murkomen used the platform to call for renewed political will and increased support to RECSA as it adapts to new security challenges facing the region.
“The threats we face today are dynamic. Our response must evolve with equal urgency,” he said.
Murkomen’s remarks serve as a strong reminder that only through shared responsibility and integrated action can the region hope to neutralize the long-standing menace of illicit firearms.
