Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called for deeper regional collaboration to tackle the escalating threat posed by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) across the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa. Speaking during the 11th Council of Ministers meeting of the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA) at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi this afternoon, CS Murkomen emphasized the urgent need for collective action to address the complex security challenges destabilizing the region.“The proliferation of small arms and light weapons continues to undermine peace and stability in our region and has devastating impacts on our communities. It is a transnational threat that requires a united and well-coordinated response,” he said.
The high-level meeting brought together ministers and delegates from 13 RECSA Member States: Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania. These countries form part of a regional framework committed to eliminating the illegal manufacture, trafficking, possession, and use of SALW.
Kenya, which has held the RECSA rotational Chairmanship for the past two years, officially handed over leadership of the Council of Ministers to Rwanda, while Tanzania assumed chairmanship of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
In his address, CS Murkomen reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to regional peace and security and thanked Member States for their collaboration during Kenya’s tenure as chair.
“Our two-year stewardship has been anchored on fostering dialogue, enhancing information-sharing, and strengthening institutional capacity. We have made notable strides, but much more remains to be done,” he stated.
The meeting also reinforced Member States’ dedication to the full implementation of the Nairobi Protocol—a landmark regional agreement adopted in 2004 under the African Union framework to curb the spread and misuse of small arms. The Protocol emphasizes national legislation, cross-border cooperation, and harmonized disarmament initiatives as key tools in addressing arms proliferation.
Accompanying the Cabinet Secretary was Dr. Raymond Omollo, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, who also served as the outgoing Chairperson of RECSA’s 16th Technical Advisory Committee. Dr. Omollo’s technical leadership has been central in shaping RECSA's policy and operational priorities, including improved stockpile management and community-level awareness campaigns on SALW risks.
Other senior officials from the Ministry of Interior were also present, underscoring Kenya’s commitment to regional partnerships and multilateral cooperation in addressing shared security challenges.
The 11th Council of Ministers meeting concluded with a renewed call for capacity building, intelligence sharing, and harmonization of laws governing arms control, as well as the mobilization of resources to support RECSA’s disarmament and development agenda.
CS Murkomen concluded by urging all stakeholders to remain vigilant and proactive:
“Let this not be a moment, but a movement. The future security of our region depends on our resolve today. We must dismantle the networks that fuel arms proliferation and invest in sustainable peace for our people.”
The RECSA Council of Ministers meeting sets the stage for continued cooperation and regional solidarity in confronting one of the continent’s most persistent and destabilizing security threats.
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