Shocking details have emerged on how rogue police officers lease out weapons to bandits raining terror in parts of the nation.
According to an investigation by a state security agency, Kenya National Focal Point (KNFP) sophisticated weapons fueling banditry and cattle rustling in Baringo, West Pokot, Isiolo, Samburu, Turkana and Marsabit counties are sourced from police stockpiles.
Speaking during the Regional Centre on Small Arms’ (RECSA) commemoration of 22 years, Amos Katana, KNFP’s assistant director of arms control and management says the weapons also come from cunning law enforcers who give out their weapons to bandits in exchange for money.
“Local business persons and politicians perpetuate this emerging trend by funding raids in order to sell cattle on the black market for export to the Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia,” part of the report reads.
The RECSA report shows how the unlawful circulation of small arms and light weapons proliferation and cattle rustling increased commercialisation of cattle rustling which also raised demand for sophisticated weapons.
In 2021, the former Rift Valley regional coordinator George Natembeya revealed how bandits were using heavy weapons, among them M16 rifles, in their attacks that left police officers exposed with their AK-47 and G3 rifles.
According to Natembeya, M16s are only used by foreign militaries during their training in Kenya, prompting a response from the British government in which officials denied claims that weapons from the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) were used in attacks in Laikipia County.
He also accused politicians of playing a big role in buying firearms and ammunition for the youth to gain support.
He accused politicians of not coming out strongly to condemn banditry, cattle rustling and these sporadic attacks.