Court declines to order that Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri can keep guns

By Patrick Kibet

Nakuru, Kenya: The High Court has declined to stop police from confiscating firearms from Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri.

However, Justice Anyara Emukule allowed Ngunjiri to challenge the decision by the Chief Licensing Officer to revoke his firearms licence.

Ngunjiri last week moved to the High Court in Nakuru seeking to have a decision to cancel his firearms licence quashed.

Through lawyer David Mongeri, Ngunjiri argued that the decision by the Chief Licensing Officer was arbitrary and against the rules of natural justice.

Ngunjiri, who is facing assault charges before a Nakuru court, has sued Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo, the Kenya Central Firearm Bureau and Interior and National Coordination Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku.

Mongeri told the court that the Chief Licensing Officer, in a letter dated August 16, revoked the certificate that licensed Ngunjiri to carry four firearms without notifying him.

In documents filed in court, Ngunjiri has been a licensed holder of a revolver, a shotgun and two rifles for 21-years.

Emukule directed the MP to serve the Director of Public Prosecutions and the matter be mentioned on September 4.

Two weeks ago, Ngunjiri denied assaulting police officer Maria Mutheo and obstructing her from performing her duties. He has also denied charges of resisting arrest and other charges of failing to observe traffic rules and disobeying verbal instructions from a police officer.

Ngunjiri is out on a Sh150,000 cash bail.