Businessman-turned-politician Jimi Wanjigi has refuted allegations that he refused to surrender his firearms as mandated by the State. In a statement on X, Wanjigi clarified that a 2018 court ruling had annulled the Firearms Licensing Board’s decision to revoke his firearms certificate, number 5922. This court decision stemmed from a petition filed in 2017.
Wanjigi contends that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed the DCI in November 2022 to adhere to the court orders concerning his firearms, but this directive has not been followed.
The clarification comes as State House official Dennis Itumbi denied claims that Wanjigi’s recent arrest was related to the Nane Nane protests. Itumbi stated that the arrest was connected to the revocation of Wanjigi’s firearms license by the Firearms Licensing Board. He also shared a letter from Rashid Yakub, head of the Firearms Licensing Board, confirming the revocation of Wanjigi’s firearm certificate.
“Pursuant to Section 4(1) read together with Section 4(3)(b) of the Firearms Act, you are in possession of firearms without a valid/expired Firearms Certificate contrary to the law,” Yakub said in a letter dated July 30, 2024.
“Further, vide Section 5(7)(a) of the Firearms Act, you are required to surrender the Firearm Certificate and all the Firearms under the said Certificate to the Firearms Licensing Board within fourteen (14) days of this letter. Be so advised.”
The firearm in question, which the licensing board wants Wanjigi to surrender, has a registration number 9522.
Wanjigi was Monday arrested and detained at Kamukunji Police Station despite having obtained orders stopping his arrest.
Wanjigi had been summoned to record a statement from Nairobi Area DCI offices.
Accompanied by his legal team, he arrived at the Nairobi Area at about 2 pm during which he was arrested.
