Is owning a gun a safe option?

Emboldened by the fact that they outnumbered their lonely victim, the robbers pounced on the man determined to relieve him of all his possessions.

However, unbeknown to the thugs, their would-be victim happened to be one of the licensed firearm holders in the country.

Shaken by the turn of events, the businessman suddenly drew the gun and shot dead all the three assailants.

Although many could argue that owning a gun could put you at a risk of being targeted by the thugs, analysts says the opposite is true.

“Studies all-over the world have shown that possessing a gun not either acts as a deterrent to would be assailants or enables you to defend yourself,” says Capt (rtd) Simiyu Werunga, the director of the East African Institute on Security Studies.

In the wake of the rising cases of insecurity across the country fuelled by the proliferation of illegal small arms, the story makes many Kenyans to wonder, what does one need to have in order to be licensed to own a gun—right connections, money, fame or all of them?

“Anyone can be licensed to own a gun without necessarily being connected, a millionaire or famous,” Abdul Mzee, the man in charge of issuing the licenses in the country, told Money in an interview.

He says, contrary to popular belief, not all persons in the country’s political class are licensed to carry guns.

“If you are struggling to put even a single meal a day on your table, why should you spend thousands of shillings on a gun?” the chief firearms licensing officer at the police department’s Central Firearms Bureau says.

While the firearms certificate goes at Sh2,000, to ascertain your criminal record, you will be required to apply to the Criminal Investigations Department for the certificate of good conduct at a cost of Sh1,000.

You will start the process of applying for the license by filling in duplicate a firearm certificate form with the help of the officer in charge of a police station (OCS) near you for which you will retain a copy.

Among the details needed are your personal details such as your name, address, age, nationality, occupation etc, why you need the firearm and type of the weapon.

“You must have a strong safe that is fixed to an immovable object like a floor where you will keep the weapon,” the licensing officer says of the safe, which has to be inspected by the OCS.

It is worth noting that you are not supposed to go for automatic weapons such as AK47 and G3, which are reserved for the security agencies.

You will then send the copy of the application form to the chief firearms licensing officer while the OCS will forward the original to the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD).

The OCPD will prepare a comprehensive recommendation that will be deliberated by the District Security Committee and Provincial Security Committee before forwarding the application to the Commissioner of Police for approval.

“He can reject or approve an application,” says Mr Mzee.

Ideally, once the Commissioner has approved an application, the license should be issued. If Mr Mzee discovers certain information that may not have come out during the application process, he can advise the Commissioner on the same and the license may be revoked.

However, once the application is approved, he will issue you with the license, a small booklet that is renewable annually and allows only you—not your spouse, friend or children—to possess and use the weapon.

“From then on it is my office that regulates you,” he says noting that even the rounds of ammunition you are allowed to have are limited.

This means that you will be required to report to the OCS any change of your permanent address within 21 days while any loss or theft of the firearm or ammunition should be reported immediately.

Once you acquire the license, the Bureau will advise on the gun dealers for you to compare prices as you search for your weapon whereby the cheapest is said to go at Sh60,000.

Among the dealers are Kenya Bunduki, Armartech, Armourment and Wali Mohamed all found in Nairobi as well as A &A Sales of Mombasa and J.J Okwaro of Kisumu.

It (Bureau) would also advice you on places where you can go for shooting practice and these includes shooting clubs.

“Owning a gun is a liability and can be risky since any slight mistake could be fatal,” warns Mr Mzee. This is true given that tragedy struck a Mombasa family recently when one of their children used the parent’s gun to commit suicide.

Failure to renew the license or misuse of the gun such as releasing it to unlicensed persons including your spouse will lead to automatic withdrawal of the license.

“Not even your wife is allowed to touch the weapon if she is not licensed,” he says.

Once the license is withdrawn, you will be required to select a dealer of your choice who will either buy back the weapon or assist you to disposes it off.

However, Capt (rtd) Werunga feels the application process is too tedious and should be shortened, especially with the ongoing implementation of community policing.

“With proper vetting of all the applicants by the area chief, OCS and OCPD, it is easy to know who qualifies for a gun and who does not,” he says.

But he is quick to add that the country may not be ready for a full liberalisation of the issuance of the permits, a problem that could be improved with an awareness campaign.

Process
—Fill the application form with the help of the nearest OCS.
—You send a copy of the form to the chief firearms licensing officer and OCS send to OCPD.
—District and provincial security committees deliberate the OCPD’s report and forward to the Commissioner of Police for approval.
—Chief firearms licensing officer issues license.