Court Gives Way Forward on Jimi Wanjigi in Firearms Case

While ordering for the release of Wanjigi and his aide, the judge also ordered for them to surrender their passports.

Earlier on Tuesday, Wanjigi’s lawyers asked the court to postpone the plea with Senior Counsel Paul Muite claiming that a prior court order barred the police from arresting the businessman.

Also Read: Jimi Wanjigi Arrested by DCI Despite Court Orders

Muite noted that the order also instructed the police to release Wanjigi if he had already been detained.

Wanjigi arraigned

Also, the lawyers claimed that in response to allegations of illegal firearm possession, the police acted maliciously and in contempt of court by cancelling Wanjigi’s firearm licence, which had been reinstated by the High Court.

Lawyer Wallis Otieno further added that the Firearm Licencing Board revoked his client’s licence, which had been restored, in order to charge him with illegal firearm possession.

Before his arraignment, Wanjigi had denied accusations that he declined to surrender firearms in his possession as required by the State

The Politician in a clarification on X said the court in 2018 nullified a decision of the Firearms Licensing Board to revoke his firearms certificate number 5922. The court decision is in reference to a petition filed in 2017. 

Wanjigi argues that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in November 2022 directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to obey court orders in relation to his firearms.

Also Read: Wanjigi Speaks on Links to Guns & Grenades, Explains Why Govt is After Him

He, however, says that has not been obeyed to date.

Itumbi on why Jimi was arrested

The clarification came even as State House Official and digital strategist Dennis Itumbi on Monday denied claims that Wanjigi was arrested over links to Nane Nane protests.

According to Itumbi, the arrest was in relation to the revocation of his firearms license by the Firearms Licensing Board.

The digital strategist in the clarification shared a letter from Firearms Licensing Board boss Rashid Yakub revoking the firearm certificate issued to Wanjigi.

“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.