President Uhuru Kenyatta has today commissioned a small arms factory at the National Security Industries in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
The project is poised to enhance security capabilities and establish a sustainable national security industrial base.
It will also enhance the country's self reliance through local production of security equipment.
The project is estimated to cost a whooping Ksh4 billion. It had been initially valued at Ksh15 billion.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Interior CS Fred Matiang'i were showed to various departments of the facility by engineers.
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The factory will manufacture small arms like rifles, pistols which will serve the local security forces.
For a long time Kenya has been importing fire arms, but the plant will now see Kenya locally manufacture them.
Engineers at the facility projected that in five years they will be able to manufacture enough hand guns and assault weapons to meet the demands of the security agencies in the country.
They stated that they over time they will be able to manufacture heavier weapons which are currently only assembled in the country.
The plant currently has a manufacturing capability of 12,000 assault weapons in one year at a rate of at least 1,000 a month.
The project will also help the government cut back on the billions of shillings it spends on importing weapons.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2019 Arms transfer database report (the latest available data), Kenya spent Ksh3.2 billion in its military activities.
