President Uhuru Kenyatta hasĀ  presided over the official opening of the Small Arms Factory in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

The new factory was developed at a cost of Kshs 4 billion and has an annual single-shift manufacturing capacity of 12,000 assault rifles with 60% of components being locally manufactured.

The President said through the local production of weaponry, Kenya seeks to enhance self-reliance, domestic innovation, and strengthening of local manufacturing capabilities, while offering decent jobs for her youth.

Kenyatta also urged the company to think of the way forward in the future to provide a good platform for future demand.

The head of state also added that Kenya hopes to create a weapons manufacturing surplus that will transform Kenya into an exporter of security equipment, to the rest of the world, in the long and medium term.

He said the arms factory which is part of the National Security Industries Network is in line with the Manufacturing Pillar of the Big Four Agenda, as well as the Kenya Vision 2030.

The project is also expected to save Kenyan taxpayers from the exorbitant importation of guns in the long run.