STATEMENT
BY
H.E. MR. Z.D. MUBURI-MUITA
AMBASSADOR/PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
DURING
THE
THEMATIC DISCUSSION
ON
CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS
FIRST COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY 24TH OCTOBER, 2007
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK
Mr. Chairman,
The problem of small arms and light weapons has brought a lot of anguish and untold suffering to our people. For us in Kenya urban crime has recently become more daring and brutal. The commercialization of cattle rustling among our pastoral communities has become entrenched in our societies, leading to a great deal of loss of life and livelihood.
This is also largely the scenario across the region, where in addition there is a multiplicity of combat groups operating with impunity across states. It is a region where generations have not known any other life outside refugee camps. Displaced persons increase by the day. Indeed whole communities in our part of the world have been destabilized and dehumanized.
Mr. Chairman,
Our region has spent immense effort and resources in resolving armed conflicts. However, no sooner do we solve one conflict than another erupts with even more devastation. On going and incipient conflicts are both prime markets for illicit fire arms as well as sources of these weapons. Whereas we recognize that it is the task of every government to secure national stability, economic development and human security for its people, we acknowledge the fact that the preponderant presence of illicit arms and light weapons and their attendant effects contribute largely to the erosion of these goals.
Kenya has therefore endeavoured to embrace all strategies aimed at arriving at viable solutions to the problem of illegal arms and light weapons. At the national level, we are firmly committed to the search and removal of firearms in illicit circulation within our borders. In this respect, we have so far destroyed over twenty thousand (20,000) assorted firearms by public burning. This activity has been accompanied by public awareness programs aimed at educating the citizenry on the evils of illicit firearms and the culture of violence. Our government is also attentive to the need to put in place development programmes that assist in reducing the factors that encourage the demand for firearms by our communities.
At the regional level, we have and continue to invest heavily in the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Kenya has also committed herself to the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration and the Nairobi protocol for the Prevention, Control and Reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa. In doing so we acknowledge the need for collaborative efforts in tackling the problem due to its cross-border nature.
Along those lines, Kenya has made significant contributions by hosting the secretariat of the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons over the years and supported it with necessary personnel and other logistics. Today the secretariat has grown into a full fledged Inter-Governmental body grouping 12 Member States. I am happy to note that on Friday 19th October, 2007 the Sixth Committee discussed the question of Observer status to the United Nations for RECSA. Observer status in the UN will greatly enhance RECSA’s capability to advance its goals through quality interaction with Member States and International Organizations in its efforts to address the problem of illicit Small Arms and Light weapons. I request all delegations to support the resolution to grant Observer Status to RECSA.
Mr. Chairman,
Kenya is persuaded that a universally, applicable regime to control the manufacture and transfer of firearms is a key priority, particularly for our part of the world that still continues to suffer the effects of irresponsible transfers and management of small arms and light weapons. We therefore remain committed to the actualization of the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPOA) as well as taking a leading role in advocating for the establishment of a legally binding treaty to control the arms trade.
Mr. Chairman,
The desire by a majority of Member States to work towards the establishment of an Arms Trade Treaty has been clearly manifested by the overwhelming vote for the ATT resolution during last year’s UNGA and subsequently reiterated by the large number of responses to the Secretary-General’s request for views. These are unequivocal signs that states do have the political will to face the serious problem of irresponsible transfers of arms. The establishment of a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) will be the next logical step in the process towards achieving an ATT. We wish the GGE a successful and constructive exercise, which no doubt will not be without challenges, but with determination and a clear focus, it is possible to arrive at useful outcome. Kenya as one of the co-authors of the resolution, will continue to advocate for an Arms Trade Treaty and will remain actively engaged in all processes towards that realization.
Thank you.
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