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{
    "id": 401753,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/401753/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 207,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "neighbour Nairobi should be the bedroom of people who work in Nairobi. However, the situation now is vice-versa. People spend a lot of money paying rent for small flats in Nairobi whilst they have left spacious houses in the countryside due to insecurity. The acts of insecurity are carried out by Kenyans. Someone who does not have anything imagines that those who have many things should share their properties by force. That will not be entertained at all. This Motion calls upon the national Government to rethink about the security situation in Kenya. This Motion proposes to arm anybody who is above 30 years of age who thinks that his life is in danger. Here we are talking about a person who is very productive to the economy, an investor, employee and employer. These groups of people should be allowed to carry guns after they have been vetted. This measure has worked well in many countries. In fact, in such countries, cases of violence and robberies have reduced significantly. The National Police Service (NPS) should, indeed, consider arming more civilians and police reservists. Recently, in this House, we discussed about the training of police reservists so that they help in the war against crime. The criminals are such a big menace in this country. Once this is done, there will be few cases of robbery. Cattle rustling which has become as a cancer in this country will reduce drastically. Increasing the number of privately licenced gun owners is seen as a wider part of the strategy to tackle crime. Recently, the Inspector General of Police, David Kimaiyo, admitted that if more civilians - during the Westgate offensive - had guns, the damage would have been minimal. The clips that were being played on television showed that majority of the people were rescued by civilians who had guns with them. The laws of Kenya provide that anybody can apply for a permit to own a gun after meeting certain qualifications or standards. However, there are some firearms, for example, AK 47 and G3 Riffle, ordinary Kenyans cannot be allowed to possess. The Senator for Kajiado County mentioned that there are areas like Karen where insecurity is very minimal because residents have guns. The moment criminals know that you own a gun, they will never come near your place. It is also good to note that the NPS agrees totally to engage the services of police reservists and other armed civilians in enforcing security in communities and battling crimes. This Motion proposes to raise the level of awareness in Kenya. It says that more stringent measures should be applied on people who are applying for guns considering that they are the ones who will be shielding our country. In other jurisdictions like the US, firearms possession is a fundamental human right. In fact, it is related to the right to life. Certain areas like Garissa and others which border Somalia should have senior citizens who own guns. Surveillance should first be done to see how many people know how to use arms. The right to keep and use arms is said to belong to every citizen who comes from states like Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri, among others. From statistics, we know that areas where people have been allowed to defend themselves, crimes have reduced drastically. Some countries, instead of arming civilians as we are suggesting here, have recruited more police officers, police reservists and anti-stock theft police officers. The security personnel have been planted strategically in areas which are said to experience insecurity. In Kenya, for example, we have not gone that direction. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}