Police forced to explain how Jimi Wanjigi got his powerful firearms

juma chrispinus

June 4, 2018 9:20 AM

Wanjigi owns most dangerous guns, which most police officers have never used in Kenya.

Police have been forced to explain how city business mogul Jimi Wanjigi got his powerful weapons, among them guns, even as he denied having them illegally.

The guns which include four Glock pistols, a Mini Archer rifle, a Norinco CQ rifle and a Smith Wesson pistol were found in his house early this year alongside 688 bullets, authorities said.

The authorities have now disclosed that the businessman convinced top police officers to surrender the guns to him after he was stripped off of police powers. At the time of his dismissal as a police reservist, Mr Wanjigi was holding Inspector rank.

The drama emerged after he got back his firearms even after a contingent of police camped at his home in Nairobi’s Muthaiga home to have the firearms and his certificate of civilian firearm cancelled.

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His appearance in court today (Monday) will task the prosecution to show the magistrate that the businessman and political activist does not fit the risk profile of someone who needs a gun to protect himself “because he lives in one of the safest places in Nairobi County."

Appearance in Court

Earlier, when he failed to appear in Court to take plea, his lawyer Nelson Havi took plea on his behalf and it remains unclear if he will be going to court today.

Mr Wanjigi’s home is surrounded by highly secured premises, including ambassadors’ residences, some of which are protected by heavily armed guards in armoured vehicles.

Police say Mr Wanjigi is still holding several firearms illegally as some of the guns believed to be in his possession were not at his Muthaiga residence when officers raided it last year.

juma chrispinus