Refugees Role in Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons: The Case of Kakuma Refugees Camp -Kenya

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VII, July 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Refugees Role in Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons: The Case of Kakuma Refugees Camp -Kenya

Moses Mugambi Mutwiri1, Pius Kipkorir Cheruiyot2, Shadrack Kipkoech Sitienei3
¹BA in Political Science and Public Administration, MA in International Relations, Currently Works with the Ministry of Interior and National Co-ordination-Kenya
² BA in Social Sciences, MA in Public Policy and Currently a PhD Candidate at Moi University, Kenya
³BA in Political Science and Public Administration, MA in International Relations and Currently a PhD Candidate of Political Science and Public Administration at Moi University, Kenya

Abstract: Intra-state conflicts and resultant population displacements transcending their territorial boundaries to seek safer heavens in the neighboring states world over. This situation is aggravated by the fact that weapons used in this conflict find their way to refugee camps hence posing a security threat not only in the camp but also to the surrounding environs. This paper seeks to unearth the role played by refugees in proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Kakuma camp in Kenya. The paper was guided by the following objectives: to find out the origin of small arms and light weapons that proliferate in Kenya, to examine the reasons why they proliferate and finally the types of weapons that proliferate. The paper adopted a mixed approach in data collection and analysis. The paper found that; the weapons that proliferate originate from unstable neighboring states, the reasons for their proliferation are numerous ranging from their availability, portability and protection, the types of small and light weapons are: MK 4, FN, G3 FMP, G3 COF and AK 47. The paper finally recommends that there should be concerted efforts by the concerned states to address the issues leading to refugee’s situations to mitigate on proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Key words: Small arms and Light Weapons, proliferation, Security, Refugees.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The United Nations convention on the status of refugee of 1951 defines a refugee as, “any person who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for a reason of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of the country’.

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