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{
    "id": 594562,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/594562/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 159,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. J.K. Chege",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2129,
        "legal_name": "John Kiragu Chege",
        "slug": "john-kiragu-chege"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to air my views on this very important Motion. First, as a country, it is important for us to note that we are not gun manufacturers. If you look around the whole world, you can see many countries are going through a very frustrating time, particularly USA where guns have been used in schools to kill children. In Sweden, people have been shot on the highway. I can understand the frustrations of my colleagues when they say that they need to track guns. As much as we would want to say that it is possible, we must also look at the cost. What is the cost of installing a tracking device and maintaining that tracking system? It is important for us to know the cost of a gun. If, for example, fitting a tracking device on a gun will cost more than 10 times the price of the gun, we need to think harder. The difficult question we have in this country is insecurity which arises from the use of guns, axes and rungus, like what happened last week in Limuru where people were killed using crude weapons. The challenges we have in the country is slow response by the police. Our police do not have adequate transport facilities and communication equipment up to now. Chiefs and assistant chiefs in most parts of the country are not even armed. Even if they were called to help, they would not respond because they are as miserable as the people they watch over. The issue of guns is more of who we should give guns and whether we should check their background. There are people in the Defence Forces who should not be given guns because their background is such that they are likely to misuse such weapons. We need to find ways of making sure that guns are given to people who can take care of them. Our borders have become passages for illegal arms. However, we cannot restrict ourselves to only electronic control. We should allow for any other proven method of detecting guns and making sure that illegal guns do not come into the country. As we discuss this matter, let us also know that for a long time we have had no laboratories to carry out forensic investigations of which gun did what and when. At least, right now the Government is working on the laboratories at the CID Headquarters. Hopefully, when they are fully commissioned, these facilities will be available to this country. My colleagues asked why the tracking has not been implemented if it is possible. I am yet to hear anybody quoting where this has happened. We have people who are fighting in Iraq, Syria and many other places. I have not heard of this electronic gadget being fitted and used. I have not even heard about it in the United States of America where guns are made; not even in Russia where AK47 are made. Let us not imagine that we can do things which other superior countries cannot even afford. We assume that if we pass this Motion and recommend what should be done then it will happen. This is a very expensive exercise. As much as we would want to see technology being applied for gun control, it is an expensive thing. It may not be practical. I do not think this system will be fool-proof so that you cannot tamper with it. I support gun control and making sure that our borders are safe, but I cannot see electronic device being the solution for this problem. There are other proven methods which should be adopted for gun control and tracking. I would later consider bringing an amendment so that we also allow the use of other proven methods other than electronic tracking. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}