Report

Attitudes to Firearms and Crime in Nairobi: Results of a City Survey

“Kenya is at the crossroads of conflict in East Africa and the Horn. Small arms trafficking and proliferation in the region threatens security, stability, and sustainable development.Based on the premise that guns flourish where insecurity prevails, this paper looks at community perceptions of firearms and security as crucial indicators of small arms penetration in Nairobi. A city survey of citizens on the street, in their homes, and in businesses was conducted to gather a range of opinions on the role of firearms and the scope of their presence and availability.The findings show that crime appears to be on the increase in Nairobi. The attendant increase in insecurity is evident in people’s attitudes towards weapons, revealing both opportunities and challenges to government
firearms control policies.”