East and Southern African Regions to tacle issues on small arms and light weapons to strengthen border security

Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr. Raymond Omollo on Monday presided over the Regional gathering by Estern and Southern African regions to tackel specter of illicit small arms and light weapons.

Small arms and light weapons continue to wreak havoc in communities, fuel conflicts, undermine peace and stability, and hinder socio-economic development across East and Southern Africa and the continent at large.

The illicit trade in small arms knows no borders and respects no laws, making it imperative to strengthen collaborative efforts at both regional and international levels.

This Regional Preparatory Meeting presents a valuable opportunity to take stock of achievements, assess the challenges that lie ahead, and chart a course of action that will enable to effectively address the root causes of SALW proliferation.
Speaking at Sarova Panafric hotel in Nairobi Dr. Raymond Omollo said that Kenya stands firm in its commitment to fully implement the Program of Action and the International Tracing Instrument.

“Our country recognizes the crucial need to strengthen our national legal and institutional frameworks, enhance border controls, and promote regional cooperation in arms control. We have taken significant steps towards these goals, such as enhancing physical security and stockpile management of government stockpiles, capacity building of our law enforcement agencies on national and other international guidelines on small arms control, and investing in modern technologies and equipment to enhance our border surveillance capabilities”Dr. Omollo said.

UN Under Secretary General and High Representative for disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu said that the widespread availability and illicit proliferation of SALW serve as key drivers and enablers of armed conflicts, violent extremism, and the expansion of terrorism, among other sources of violence and insecurity.

Small arms control measures have proven themselves to be effective tools to disrupt the supply of illicit SALW to terrorist and criminal groups. “Adequate small arms control is a crucial means of reducing armed violence, preventing conflict and building peaceful and inclusive societies – without which sustainable development cannot happen,” Izumi Nakamitsu said.

Dr. Omollo urged all participating countries to reaffirm their commitment to implementing the relevant international instruments, among others, the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, its International Tracing Instrument, Nairobi Protocol, and SADC Protocol.

He emphasized the need to strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks, enhance border security measures, and improve capacity for arms tracing, marking, and record-keeping.

“As a government, Kenya remains committed to promoting peace and security, and we will continue to work tirelessly towards achieving this goal, both domestically and internationally” He said.

The politically binding framework contains commitments by Member States to enhance control measures over small arms, including
through improved national regulations, stockpile management, import/export controls and international cooperation.

These measures are integral to the global effort in addressing the challenges posed by the illicit arms trade and align with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.