It is common knowledge that firearms are heavily regulated in Kenya, and those who wish to own guns must obtain a license from the authorities.
Possession of handguns, rifles, or shotguns in Kenya requires a license or permit issued by the Firearms Licensing Board, the government agency responsible for regulating, licensing, and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, transportation, sale, and possession of firearms in the country.
The Firearms Licensing Board conducts several checks to ensure that every applicant who wishes to own a firearm has valid reasons, is fit to own a gun, and can safely handle it.
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Important facts concerning gun ownership in Kenya
Gun ownership in Kenya is governed by the Firearms Act of the Constitution, which states: “No person shall purchase, acquire or have in his possession any firearm or ammunition unless he holds a firearm certificate in force at the time.”
The Firearms Act is based on the understanding that firearms are dangerous weapons and the state has a duty to protect the public from their misuse.
Firearms control in Kenya is among the strictest in the world, and as a result, firearms offences continue to make up a small proportion of recorded crime.
Can anyone apply for a firearm certificate in Kenya?
As stated, the Kenyan government generally requires anyone wishing to possess a handgun or semiautomatic rifle first to obtain a license, following a background check.
Permission to possess, purchase or acquire a firearm will only be granted to an individual the Firearms Licensing Board has assessed as not posing a threat to public safety and having good reason to own the weapon.
That said, applicants must meet certain requirements, including:
* Being at least 18 years old
* Being a Kenyan citizen or legal resident
* Having good moral character
* Not having been convicted of a felony or serious offence
* Not being a fugitive from justice
* Not being an unlawful user or addicted to controlled substances
* Being free from mental disorders that would impair their ability to safely use a firearm
* Being sufficiently trained in the use of small arms
The required documents needed before starting the application for a firearm certificate include a copy of an ID or passport, a certificate of good conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), a psychiatric report from a government hospital, a Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC), and a six-month bank statement.
How to apply?
The firearms license in Kenya is accessible online through eCitizen. For access, please click HERE.
To create an account on the registration website, click the “Sign up” button located on the right, just below where it is written, “Access the Firearms Licensing Board services using your eCitizen account.”
First-time applicants are required to apply in person at the Firearms Bureau in Nairobi after undergoing a vetting process at the Police Pavilion in South C.
As you start your application, it is important to know that certain individuals are exempt from holding a firearm certificate in Kenya. These exemptions include police officers and senior-ranking officers who use government firearms and ammunition for official duties, people involved in the business of firearm dealing or gunsmithing, members of rifle clubs approved by the licensing authority, and slaughterhouse workers using captive bolt guns for animal stunning in abattoirs.
How much is a firearm certificate in Kenya?
As noted, you need a firearms certificate issued by the Firearms Licensing Board to possess, buy, or acquire a firearm or shotgun. You must also have a certificate to buy ammunition.
The application fee for a rifle or shotgun permit is Ksh2,000, Ksh5,000 for a pistol or revolver, and Ksh100 for each round of ammunition. The fee for a fishing gun is Ksh2,000, while an injection gun for industrial use costs Ksh1,500. Payments can be made by credit card or Mpesa when applying via eCitizen.
A firearm or shotgun certificate is valid for five years, and the renewal fee is Ksh5,000.
What kind of firearm can be held on certificate?
In Kenya, common firearms such as handguns, shotguns, and rifles are legal. However, the law prohibits the possession, manufacture, transportation, or disposal of assault weapons, which are defined as semi-automatic pistols or rifles that use detachable magazines, semi-automatic shotguns, machine guns, and short-barreled rifles designed as self-loading military assault rifles of 7.62 mm or 5.56 mm calibre.
Examples of 7.62 mm firearms include the AK-47, AKM, RPK, and RPD light machine guns, which are primarily used in antipersonnel roles by infantry. Firearms that use the 5.56 mm cartridge include the M16, M4 carbine, AR-15, FAMAS, G36, SCAR-L, and M249 light machine gun.
In Kenya, handguns and shotguns are legally available from licensed gun shops after obtaining a license from the Central Firearms Registration Bureau of the Firearms Licensing Board. The retail prices for these firearms are between Ksh100,000 and Ksh300,000 for handguns and between Ksh160,000 and Ksh350,000 for shotguns.
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