Former Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei has revealed that the main market for illicit firearms is crime, and in that context, robbery and banditry form a significant part of the activities driven by illegal gun circulation.

Speaking during an interview with K24 TV on Friday, April 24, 2026, Bungei noted that the demand for illegal weapons is closely tied to criminal enterprises that rely on firearms to execute violent crimes across different regions.

He pointed out that addressing the menace of illicit arms requires a direct focus on the criminal networks that sustain demand, particularly those involved in robbery and banditry.

“Once we say ‘illicit’, it’s a crime. What is driving all this is crime. The main market for illicit firearms is crime,” Bungei said.

Criminal activities

Bungei explained that various forms of criminal activity, including banditry, robbery, and terrorism, constitute the key demand base for illegal arms in the country.

“In that case, we can say banditry is one of the crimes, robbery is one of the crimes, and terrorism as well is part of some of the crimes being committed by use of these firearms. So, that is the main market or the main interest that has been giving us challenges: why these firearms are coming in. It’s only to commit a crime,” Bungei said.

Crack down on illegal firearms

This comes amid the current efforts by the government to crack down on the illegal possession of firearms in most parts of the country, with the surrendered firearms, magazines, and ammunition recently being securely kept in the station after recovery.

The National Police Service has recently recovered two illegal firearms following an operation in Isiolo North Sub-County.

In a statement on the official NPS X account on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the officers announced that the rifles were voluntarily surrendered on Monday, April 13, 2026.

According to the officers, two residents from the Lowangila area surrendered an AK-47 and a G3 rifle to the National Police Service in Isiolo North Sub-County.

“Members of the public continue to respond positively to the ongoing ‘Operation Dumisha Usalama’. ‘ Yesterday, 13th April 2026, two residents of the Lowangila area voluntarily surrendered an AK-47 and a G3 rifle to the National Police Service in Isiolo North Sub-County,” the NPS stated.