Kenya opens rifle factory by Jeremy Binnie Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta formally inaugurated the new Small Arms Factory at the National Security Industries in Ruiru, north of Nairobi, on 8 April, in what he described as the beginning of the country’s plans to become a significant weapons manufacturer. President Kenyatta (left) inspects one of the rifles produced by the new Small Arms Factory. (State House Kenya) In a speech during the opening, Kenyatta said the factory was built for KES4 billion (USD37.5 million) and can produce 12,000 assault rifles a year, with 60% of the components being locally manufactured. “This ground-breaking initiative will allow us to lay the foundation for addressing the high cost of weapons acquisition, free us from the complex foreign export approval processes currently in place, provide Kenya with greater security sector independence and flexibility, and allow Kenya to design and produce high-quality weapons, customised to our unique needs and operating environments,” he said.