President Kenyatta on Thursday officially launched a new government small arms factory in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
The Sh4 billion facility has a single-shift annual production capacity of 12,000 assault rifles and procures 60 percent of its components from local sources.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, Kenyatta said the factory, which is part of a broad multi-agency national security industries strategy, is in line with the Big Four Agenda and Vision 2030.
Uhuru said Kenya is keen on enhancing her self-reliance in security through local production of equipment and technologies, adding that the factory will lower the cost of acquiring weapons for Kenyan security agencies and create jobs for Kenyan youth.
“This groundbreaking initiative will allow us to lay the foundation for addressing the high cost of weapons acquisition, free us from the complex foreign export approval processes currently in place, provide Kenya with greater security sector independence and flexibility, and allow Kenya to design and produce high-quality weapons, customized to our unique needs and operating environments,” said Kenyatta.
He added: “I am also pleased to note that the diligence of our security organs has delivered this project well under budget, with the project having been completed at a cost of about Sh4 billion against private sector quotes of Sh15 billion, a saving of Sh11 billion.”
Kenya plans to use the factory to create an arms manufacturing surplus that will transform the country into an exporter of security equipment.
“The company must continue to invest in research and development, skills and technology transfer, secure international sub-contracting, production under license, multinational co-development and co-production, and the use of intellectual property rights to secure designs and processes,” Kenyatta remarked.
Exporting weapons when we…
Exporting weapons when we are not self sufficient in basic needs like food.Northeastern is facing a drought Another cash cow to divert funds this time from the military. Why are we not importing Oxygen which is in short supply in all major hospitals apparently we have the containers but they are all empty. Should saving lives not come before exporting weapons used to end lives?
Yes investment in research…
Yes investment in research,and development ,skill,and technology is crucial in creating any product that would be accepted internationally.Otherwise,there is no point in making mediocre,and unreliable product that breaks down often,and maintenance is just as poor.Obviously such a product would not sell.
To me investing in weapons is an admission that we have quite afew enemies out there, the kind of enemies we need to kill.
We also have manufactured enemies,and those are the worst because they become enemies we need to kill.And these enemies are corruption, laziness,adultery,domestic violence, hunger,unemployment, crime to name afew. If we can invest in ways to control,or do away with these “manufactured enemies” we would need few guns,and improved internal security.My two cents.
But Kikuyus normally kill…
But Kikuyus normally kill Kalenjins.
Guest why would we import…
Guest why would we import oxygen? What are the people in Kenya breathing? It is in the air all we need is concentrators.
Developed nations the…
Developed nations the military lead in innovation and tech. This is diversification of economy. Only issue is military must be subjected to audit. They must be accountable.
Kenya is like the broke,…
Kenya is like the broke, very broke person who shamelessly has no pity on himself/herself. Misplaced priorities! Are we still at war with Somalia. Doesn’t even feel like it. How many young men and women are whisked in through Wilson airport after being killed by Somali Terrorist groups yet the govt has distanced itself from them. How are we developing infrastructure, hospitals. How are we mitigating hunger, how are we fighting corruption? Are we doing it with the same enthusiasm as we support useless projects like these. The other day US donated weapons worth billions to Kenya. We all know with the level of corruption and deliberate indifference those responsible are, these guns will end up in the streets. Black market will thrive on this and absolutely no profit will be gained from it. Kazi bure tu.
Kikuyu are now going to kill…
Kikuyu are now going to kill Kalenjins like chickens.
Very sad.
What is wrong with us?When…
What is wrong with us?When do we put our foot down and say enough is enough….Unless I am thoroughly mistaken…aren’t people starving in Kenya?..,Isn’t Kenyatta hospital in a poor state in all ways possible?why is this money not put towards bettering the lives of Kenyans instead we are being given one more way to kill eachother like we don’t have enough ways already….Very soon Kenyans will be extinct
Blah blah blah, why, why why…
Blah blah blah, why, why why why, and we still vote for them, then come and complain! Yay yay yah. Bonoko, bonoko hoyee! Bonoko bonoko hoye!! Uza bonoko, hope deni la wa china mtalipa!!