As a result of a combination of decades of poor governance and a fragile ecological system characterised by recurrent drought, the pastoral regions of northern Kenya are caught in a vicious cycle of violent conflicts that fuel poverty and diminish the prospects for development. This is all made worse by the easy availability of arms. What causes the proliferation of small arms? Can regional and national gun control policies be implemented in local contexts? Can grassroots campaigns find alternative ways of reducing the numbers of small arms in circulation?