By Steve El Sabai
Principal Secretary for Interior Security and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo, presided over the official opening of the RECSA 20 Forum at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi. The high-level meeting, which began today, June 9, 2025, will run for three days, bringing together security experts, government officials, and regional partners to reflect on two decades of concerted efforts to combat the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa.
Speaking during the opening session, Dr. Omollo underscored the grave threat posed by the illicit circulation of small arms, which continue to fuel conflict, exacerbate crime, and undermine peace and development across the region. He called for strengthened multi-agency collaboration and enhanced intelligence-sharing to effectively counter arms trafficking networks.
“This gathering is not merely a celebration of milestones, but a crucial moment to reaffirm our shared responsibility in building safer communities,” Dr. Omollo emphasized. “The illegal trade in small arms is a persistent menace that demands unified, proactive, and sustained action.”
The forum comes at a pivotal time, as regional states strive to confront evolving security challenges, including transnational organized crime, terrorism, and internal instability. Dr. Omollo lauded RECSA’s role in steering regional policy, promoting arms control measures, and supporting member states in disarmament, marking, and tracing initiatives.
He further stressed the importance of empowering local communities to actively participate in peacebuilding and disarmament programs, noting that the fight against illicit arms must be rooted at the grassroots level to yield lasting results.
RECSA’s 20-year journey has seen significant strides in harmonizing legislative frameworks, fostering inter-state cooperation, and implementing cross-border strategies to curb the flow of illegal weapons. The ongoing forum provides an essential platform to review progress, confront emerging threats, and share best practices aimed at achieving sustainable security.
Dr. Omollo’s leadership at the forum reaffirms Kenya’s steadfast commitment to regional peace, security, and the broader global agenda of eradicating the scourge of illicit arms, securing the region for future generations.