Why everyone’s talking guns

That these anecdotes and hearsay even exist point, however, to three alarming conclusions.

First, the clear possibility that the erosion of that government monopoly on the use of force is accelerating rather than decelerating.

Second, the possibility that the erosion of citizens’ faith in the government to protect them — within the boundaries of the Constitution and the law — is equally accelerating.

And third, the need to act with urgency to at least acknowledge, if not address, what may underlie the persistent tensions in the Rift Valley — namely the legitimate grievances of so-called host communities and the equally legitimate fears of so-called settler communities.

Nobody can ever be safe in the Rift Valley unless and until that is done — until, in fact, peace and reconciliation are approached far more deeply and fundamentally than current exhortations to basically love your neighbour regardless.

Which is not to justify crime.

Owning conventional arms is a crime unless owners are duly authorised and registered.

Trading in conventional arms is equally a crime unless the traders are also duly authorised and registered.

Using conventional arms offensively is a crime as well. That should be evident — but apparently is not.

The first two conclusions are — or should be — of grave concern to us all.

If, with essentially makeshift and traditional weapons (farming implements and bows and arrows), over 1,000 Kenyans could be killed in such a short space of time in 2008, imagine the numbers of deaths we could register with conventional small arms and assault weapons. So yes, the government should investigate, with haste, the BBC and follow-up stories.

And, in doing so, it should be careful not to penalise and punish those essentially trying to blow the whistle — especially when, as should be obvious, those most concerned about blowing the whistle as probably those with the least capacity to verify facts.

There is a balance between trying to raise the red flag and unnecessary alarm.

What weighs the balance is the public interest — and in this case, evidently, the broader public interest prevails.

L. Muthoni Wanyeki is the Executive Director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)