Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has been asked by the National Gun Owners Association of Kenya (NGAO) to investigate and take stern action against corrupt officials who are involved in the illegal sale and licencing of firearms.
The syndicate operates in the civilian firearms registry where the trade is brokered between them and those who wish to possess firearms and are not eligible as well as those frustrated with waiting for the process to be complete.
The cartel rakes in up to Sh1 Million from individuals for the licences, when the required application fee is Sh2,000.
"People are still buying fake licences. Even some with questionable characters are getting permits to possess weapons," a source close to the developments told The Standard.
The ring is said to be so powerful that it has strongly opposed new management policies in the bureau and succeeded.
The call to Nkaissery comes as some licensed firearm holders were shocked to find out that they are in illegal possession of guns when they applied for the renewal of their permits.
A Nairobi businessman, Andrew Laird White, and his wife Joy Akoth Mboya had their Taurus pistols confiscated at the Central Firearms Bureau Nairobi headquarters after their licences could not be authenticated.
They were further informed that the certificate numbers they had been issued with belonged to a Mr G. Nyamaku and M. Talaal.
Further investigations indicate that an illegal cartel has been running the operation resulting in about 100 cases of firearms being issued under questionable licences and are now under scrutiny.
