Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday led an exercise destroying thousands of illegal firearms and ammunition collected from civilians in disarmament drives.

8,745 guns were set ablaze in Magadi located to the southwest of the capital, Nairobi.

Kenyan security agencies have been implementing a disarmament program to rid the East African country of illegal firearms believed to fuel violence.

Some of Kenya's regions are dogged by occasional gun violence, mostly perpetrated by ethnic extremists.

Tuesday's burning of guns and ammunition is the second incident of such magnitude since a similar move saw over 8,000 guns set ablaze in 2007.

Reports indicate that the guns are obtained in black markets inside and outside the country.

Also present in Magadi to witness Tuesday's burning of firearms included Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and Inspector General of police Hillary Mutyambai.

Source: Kenyan Presidency