Kinoti and Wanjigi battling over guns in court

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti and Businessman Jimi  Wanjigi are battling over gun possession in court after the DCI confisticated his guns.

Wanjigi wants the court to compel Kinoti to return the firearms seized from his house in 2017, days to the repeat presidential election.

DCI boss argues that some of the weapons held by Wanjigi are high-precision military firearms that civilians are prohibited from having, according to the Firearms Act Cap 114 Laws of Kenya.

“Investigations have revealed that Wanjigi holds more guns which he failed to surrender when ordered by the Firearms Licensing Board in the letter dated 30th January 2018,” Inspector Maxwell Otieno said in affidavit filed on behalf of Kinoti.

Wanjigi is accused of being in possession of both illegal and illegally acquired firearms, which the DCI cites as posing danger to the security of the state.

Police also recovered four Glock pistols, one Smith & Wesson pistol, a Mini Archer assault rifle fitted with a laser, an M4CQ assault rifle and 688 bullets during the raid.

In June this year, the tycoon filed a contempt suit against Kinoti for disobeying court orders that instructed the police to release the guns to him. He claimed that the Kinoti had a pending six month jail term for violating court orders issued by Justice Chacha Mwita.

DCI, however, claims that the businessman cannot claim the guns because his certificate was revoked.

But the DCI in court papers obtained by the Star says Wanjigi cannot lay claim to the guns as his firearms certificate was revoked after police stated that the two of the guns – the Mini Archer and the .223 CQ – are prohibited in Kenya.

The police further stated that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions had also appealed the June 2019 ruling that granted the businessman orders to have the firearms back.

DCI also wants Wanjigi to undergo a fresh vetting required of firearms holders as was ordered by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, at the same time, DCI is questioning how he renewed his firearms certificate after he was disarmed.

Wanjigi had initially served as a police reservist but was sacked for threatening other citizens with the firearm he held.

The sleuths also criticized Wanjigi’s move to the High Court after he was directed to surrender the weapons to the Firearms Licensing Board.