Militarized responses to pastoralist conflict and wildlife crime in Kenya –including to the collapsing elephant and rhino populations – often fail to meet human rights standards and undermine local capacities for sustainability, peace and alternative livelihoods. Heavy-handed state suppression encourages extrajudicial violence and introduces new weapons that often enter the illicit market. This article outlines alternative approaches rooted in human rights, the rule of law and international cooperation and assistance, including the use of regional instruments regulating the trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW), including the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The article draws on fieldwork in Kenya and participant observation in advocacy on the ATT.