Kenya destroys small arms

2003-03-17 09:35

Nairobi - Kenyan authorities on Saturday begun destroying thousands of guns recovered by police from criminals over several decades.

The first 1 000 guns were set on fire by Vice President Michael Wamalwa in Nairobi.

A total of 20 000 illicit small arms in police stores around the country will be destroyed gradually, according the minister in charge of internal security, Chris Murungaru.

The British government has donated two gun-crushers to be used in the gun destruction exercise.

"Today we have launched the destruction of 1 000 assorted small arms and light weapons," said Wamalwa.

"It is my sincere hope that this event will become an enduring milestone in our concerted efforts to create an arms-free region with a conducive environment for sustained development and human security," he added.

"Let us not look at the money value of these weapons...but at the pain humanity has been spared by putting these weapons out of circulation," the vice president said.

The arms destruction is in line with an agreement reached in 2000 by states in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region binding them to work together to stop the proliferation of illegal small arms.

Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda are party to that agreement. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA