Small Arms Insecurity

The problem of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) is not just a national one; it is also an international issue. The use of illicit SALWs leads to widespread illegal activities and eventually undermines the legitimate authority of the State. It is widely believed that there is a linkage between security, conflict prevention, peace building and sustainable development. Kenya is not an exemption in this emerging paradigm. The main objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the small arms and light weapons policy in improving security in the North Rift region of Kenya. It focuses on the Concerted Action of the First Ministerial Review Conference of the Nairobi Declaration on the Problem of the Proliferation of Illicit SALWs in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa. The study was guided by the International Regime theory, that the aspect of security is a concerted effort of states. The escalating security concerns has led the government to forge cooperation with other states to curb the flow of illicit SALWs, which is at an alarming rate and has threatened security and development.