Gov’t Orders Civilian Gun Holders to Acquire Biometric ID Cards Before March 18th

The government has ordered civilian gun holders to acquire new electronic identification cards before March 18th, 2019.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i says that the new special IDs are fitted with chips that contain the holders' personal details.

Speaking in Mombasa during a meeting with all security heads drawn from across the country, Matiang'i says the move aims at preventing cases of misuse of firearms.

“We collect a lot of cartridges but are not able to trace the firearms. These chips will help us be able to trace and track them,” says Matiang’i.

This comes at a time when the government is pushing to have gun holders vetted afresh, a move that has attracted opposition from the National Gun Owners Association. The association has filed a case in court seeking to have the move suspended.

The move also comes days after the Private Security Regulatory Authority announced plans to have private security guards armed with guns.