A Ugandan national, John Kalipa, will serve a 12-year prison sentence in Kenya after being convicted for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, and being in the country without valid immigration documents. His case has brought renewed attention to the growing problem of cross-border arms trafficking and the Kenyan Judiciary’s firm stance on repeat offenders.
Kalipa was arrested on the night of April 14, 2024, in Makutano township, West Pokot County, after members of the public tipped off police that he was attempting to sell an AK-47 rifle and 19 rounds of live ammunition. Officers tracked him to a junction near Panama Bar, where he was intercepted and found carrying the weapon wrapped in green, white, and black cloth.
The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Kapenguria found Kalipa guilty of three charges: possession of a firearm without a certificate, unlawful possession of ammunition, and illegal presence in Kenya. The court sentenced him to 12 years in prison, citing the seriousness of the offences and his criminal history.
Kalipa, who had previously served a five-year sentence for a similar offence between 2010 and 2015, appealed the ruling at the High Court. He argued that the prosecution’s case was weak, citing lack of photographic evidence, fingerprints, and the absence of the informants in court. However, the High Court dismissed his appeal on April 30, 2025, ruling that the police testimony was credible and the trial had been properly conducted.
“The absence of photographs or fingerprint evidence does not negate the credibility of the officers’ testimony,” the judge stated.
Kalipa’s repeat offences and his status as an undocumented foreign national have reignited concerns in West Pokot about the ease with which firearms cross the Uganda-Kenya border. His case is seen as both a cautionary tale and a sign of the Judiciary’s resolve to clamp down on illegal arms trade.
As Kalipa begins his sentence, authorities and locals alike hope the case marks a turning point in efforts to disrupt the deadly flow of guns fueling insecurity in the region.
