Parliament Reviews New Plan to Track Every Police Firearm in Real Time

The National Assembly’s Public Petitions Committee is reviewing a proposal to introduce a national digital system that will track all police firearms across Kenya, a move aimed at strengthening accountability and tightening security within the National Police Service.

The proposal aims to establish a real-time digital firearms detection and monitoring system to curb cases of missing, stolen, or misused police-issued weapons.

The petition reached the Committee on June 30 when Emmanuel Ojow presented it, raising concern over increasing incidents of lost and stolen police firearms linked to recent attacks on police stations across the country.

Ojow told the Committee that attackers have ambushed police stations across the country and stolen firearms, exposing significant weaknesses in firearm storage, monitoring, and rapid-response systems.

“The theft or unauthorized removal of police firearms heightens operational risk for police officers, endangers civilians, and undermines public confidence in national security institutions,” said Ojow.

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Weaknesses in the Current Firearms Management System

He further argued that the current manual firearm issuance and armoury management system lacks real-time electronic detection mechanisms, which makes it difficult to identify unauthorized removal or tampering.

“The lack of real-time digital tracking of missing weapons increases the likelihood that such firearms will be used in violent criminal activity against both civilians and officers,” he added.

In his petition, Ojow urged the National Assembly to amend the National Police Service Act and related legislation to establish a secure national digital firearms detection and tracking system within the National Police Service.

Biometric System Proposed for Real-Time Monitoring

He proposed a system that incorporates biometric-controlled smart armouries, encrypted real-time tracking, instant alerts, safeguards to protect operational confidentiality, dedicated budgetary support, and statutory protections to shield officers from liability linked to technological failures beyond their control.

Ojow explained that the system will rely on biometric fingerprint authentication, where fingerprint scans are transmitted to a central command centre each time a firearm is accessed.

He said this approach will help authorities identify officers handling firearms and allow quick intervention when unauthorized access occurs.

He noted that countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Singapore already use advanced firearm accountability systems.

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Lawmakers Question Feasibility

During deliberations, Committee members questioned the practicality of the proposed system and raised concerns about its effectiveness.

MP Joshua Kandie asked how biometric tracking would work in real time and whether similar systems operate successfully in other countries.

He also questioned how the system would address illegal firearms smuggling across borders.

Other members highlighted operational challenges, especially where officers frequently reassign firearms.

They sought clarity on how authorities would update biometric records quickly while maintaining accurate and reliable tracking.

The Committee advised the petitioner to engage the Ministry of Interior and other relevant security agencies to obtain technical input and assess the feasibility of the proposed system before further consideration.

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MPs During a past parliamentary sitting. PHOTO/PoK