Launch of Small Arms exhibition at UN Gigiri.

10 August 2007: The United Nations Information Centre Nairobi today launched an exhibition on Small Arms entitled Crush the Illicit Trade in Small Arms: Save Lives. The exhibition which will run from 10 to 31 August 2007 , was officially opened by the Assistant Minister of Provincial Administration and Internal Security in Kenya, Honourable Peter Munya

Also present during the launch of the exhibition was Mr. David Kimayo, Senior Deputy Commissioner of police and Director of Police operations in Kenya who gave a speech on the security situation in Kenya and in particular because of the proliferation of small arms. Other distinguished guests included government, civil society and UN colleagues (in particular UNODC, UNDP and UNICEF).

The spread and misuse of illicit small arms and light weapons pose serious threats to peace, security and stability and carry a wide range of humanitarian and socio-economic consequences.  The only beneficiaries of illicitly-traded small arms and light weapons are criminals, warlords, terrorists and illicit brokers.  If left unchecked, their accumulation can endanger peace agreements and disrupt social and economic restoration or development.