Robberies and muggings have been on the rise in the Nairobi CBD over the last few weeks, with victims posting their ordeals on social media accounts.
The most recent one involves Shiksha Arora, a KBC presenter who described how she was mugged and strangled at the Globe roundabout flyover on Twitter.
Actor Ainea Ojiambo was also involved in a gunshot incident in April and caused an uproar on social media.
As two guys attempted to steal a gold necklace from his neck, Ainea accidentally shot a guard, killing him on the spot.
It was then discovered that Ainea is a legally licensed gun owner who is permitted by law to use his weapon when his safety is threatened.
Prior to that, Embakasi East legislator Babu Owino and DJ Evolve had an altercation at a prominent nightclub in Nairobi. DJ Evolve was allegedly shot at close range by Babu, who is also a licensed gun owner. The case is still pending in court.
In Kenya, becoming a licensed gun owner is a complex process, but it is advised, especially when one’s safety is threatened.
For starters, anyone can own a gun for personal protection, and there are no restrictions on the number of firearms a person can possess. In Kenya, however, no individual can lawfully acquire more than one firearm for personal protection.
The police’s job is to keep the peace and order and ensure that everyone’s safety is ensured. As a result, only a small percentage of applications for gun ownership by civilians are normally approved.
Depending on the type of gun, owning a handgun in Kenya costs between Sh100,000 and Sh350,000 when lawfully purchased and licensed.
For the application to be approved, there are four important elements that must be met.
These are:
- The applicant must be at least 21 years old.
- Must be trained in handling firearms.
- Should be mentally stable and of sound mind.
- A clean criminal record is required.
According to the Firearms Act, normal citizens or simply “Raia” cannot be issued with firearms like the Ak47, MP5, or G3 that are used by security forces. As a result, any citizen found possessing the aforementioned sort of guns will be imprisoned under the 2015 Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill.
Here’s How To Apply:
- Express your interest by making an application to the officer in charge of guns licensing.
- Fill out application paperwork at the Nairobi Firearms Office’s Chief Licensing Officer.
- Submit the application form to a nearby police station together with a certificate of good conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI). This will cost you Sh2000.
- The National Intelligence Service (NIS) conducts one vetting process while the Firearms Licensing Board does another (This can either be approved or rejected).
- If your application is granted, it will be sent to the Inspector General of Police, who will either approve or reject it.
- The Firearms Licensing Board will award the applicant a license that is renewable annually if and only if the IG approves the application.
When a licensed firearm owner loses or destroys his or her firearm, he or she must report it to the nearest police station, and failure to do so warrants one-year imprisonment or a fine not exceeding Sh10,000.
When a licensed firearm owner dies, the family is required to notify the police, who will then surrender the weapon to the firearms bureau.
