Patrons claim man threatened them with a gun at Westlands club

Picture showing a beretta pistol. [Photo: Courtesy]

Police are investigating claims that a city businessman of Iranian decent threatened patrons at a popular club in Westlands, Nairobi with a gun.

The businessman is also accused of using racist remarks on fellow patrons on Sunday night at the Alchemist restaurant.

According to the witnesses, the said businessman Mr. Majid Khosrojerdi uttered racist remarks at the Alchemist hotel in Westlands, cocked his gun and threatened to shoot three patrons he had disagreed with. It is not yet clear what they had argued over.

The case has been reported to Parklands  Police station and is currently being investigated.

Khosrojerdi is of Iran descent and operates his club at the Village Market. He is also said to have told the patrons he is untouchable.

It remains unclear why the management allowed an armed licensed gun holder into the premises at a time when misuse of fire arms is on the rise.

Cases of misuse of weapons have been on rise in the country with the licensing board taking stringent measures to address the same. More than 50 individuals have in the past year alone lost their licenses in a crackdown by the board.

Owning Firearms

The Firearms Licensing Board currently approves licenses for civilians to own weapons.

Officials want a law be introduced to have regular psychiatric examinations to firearms holders including the armed government agencies like the police.

Over the years, cases of police officers shooting their colleagues or committing suicide using guns have been on the rise.

Under the licensing board, there is the secretariat that registers civilian firearm holders, dealers and manufactures of firearms under the Act, register, supervise, and control all shooting ranges that are registered under the law, establish, maintain and monitor a centralised record management system and perform such other functions as the Cabinet Secretary may prescribe from time to time.

The law states clearly that no person shall manufacture, assemble, purchase, acquire or have in his possession an armoured vehicle unless he holds a certificate of approval issued. Those found with illegal weapons are liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than fifteen years.

Gun holders usually go through rigorous process before they are issued with such a weapon. Before one is allowed to own a gun, he or she is supposed to apply through an OCS who forwards the application to the OCPD, who then convenes a meeting of the district intelligence and security officers for review before it is sent to the county commanders for approval.

There area about 6,000 licensed gun holders in the country. Recently, there have been reports some gun holders are illegally having the weapons after bribing to get permits from the Chief Firearms Licensing Officer, prompting authorities to order that all gun holders apply for their permits afresh.