“In North East Africa and the Rift Valley, the flow of arms has been particularly heavy leading to the escalation of banditry, cattle rustling, raiding, and ethnic conflict. This hard-hitting book brings together the issues affecting the arms trade, from the regulation of international arms sales to regional efforts to improve security, community involvement, and economic development.”

“[T]hose studying social change in Africa will find Guns and Governance of great use. Of special note are the changes in tribal administration and interaction brought about by colonialism and national independence, how theses changes have influenced the flood of small arms, and how this flood has changed the cultural landscape of the Rift Valley. ”
 — African Studies Quarterly

“. . . stimulating. . . a fascinating empirical analysis of the dysfunctional nature of modernization.March/April 2009”
 — Foreign Affairs

“Without doubt the author has succeeded in making a valuable contribution toward understanding the nature of pastoral life in the Rift Valley. He must be commended for addressing vexing issues and for the risk he endured in conducting the research. Like the author's other publications, this book will be extremely useful to policymakers, researchers, and NGOs working on SALW.Vol. 54.1 2011”
 — African Studies Review

“Mkutu's valuable study demonstrates what happens when the institutions and security apparatus of government are too weak, disinterested, or corrupt to exert their authority to keep peace, and a Hobbesian state of nature dominated by armed militias take over. As such, Mkutu's book is profoundly disturbing and illuminating.Vol. 42.1 2009”
 — Susanne D. Mueller, Harvard University

“A systematic overview of the effect of small arms on pastoralism and governance in Karamoja and Samburu/Laikipia/Turkana.”
 — Philip Winter, Rift Valley Institute

“A path-breaking examination of a highly important and hitherto largely neglected topic.”
 — Mark Leopold, University of Sussex