Kenya to oversee regional war on illicit small arms trade

Kenya has been elected to take charge of the regional war ag against illicit small arms trade in Great Lakes region and Horn of Africa, following a unanimous endorsement from representatives of 15 member states of the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA).

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said this new role effectively expands the country’s scope of responsibilities in the efforts to stop illicit arms trade and foster sustainable peace and security in the region.

Omondi relayed Kenya’s readiness to advance RECSA’s agenda, including ending violent conflicts, terrorism, organized crimes and humanitarian crises fed a proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

“Kenya pledges unconditional support and commitment to this cause, and I am certain that the role that the member states have assigned us today will make us even more aggressive in against this menace,” the PS said.

“We will strive to be a true partner, who will not only lead by example but also foster an environment of collaboration, growth, and collective success,” Omollo said.

In its proposals, Kenya will seek to leverage the power of sharing of resources and expertise to step up disarmament operations and implement innovative security solutions tailored to community needs.

“We believe that in a holistic approach, encompassing disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration efforts, as well as robust community-based initiatives. We intend to enhance coordination, regional organizations, and international partners to bolster our collective efforts to improve information-sharing and detect, prevent, and respond to the illicit trade,” Omollo said.

Kenya has been deputizing the DR Congo as the chair of the Council of Ministers (CoM), the supreme organ that provides RECSA with the necessary policy guidance.

Among Kenya’s first assignments is to push for the elevation of RECSA’s influence on the continental scale in peace and security initiatives.

RECSA states now want Kenya to officially submit a request to the AU General Assembly to consider designating the organization as an AU specialized agency on matters small arms and light weapons.