Uhuru's son Jomo challenges state move to revoke gun licence

Says decision to withdraw his firearms license is in violation of section 5 (8) of the Firearms Act.

In Summary
  • He claims he has not been informed of the reasons for the intended revocation despite being in possession of a license.
  • On Friday, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said 23 firearms were recovered from three homes in Karen, Nairobi, following an operation.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's son Jomo Kenyatta with his wife Fiona Achola.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's son Jomo Kenyatta with his wife Fiona Achola.
Image: FILE

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's son John Jomo Kenyatta has moved to the High Court to challenge the government's decision to withdraw his gun licence.

In an urgent application before the Milimani Law Courts, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's son-John. J. Kenyatta has asked the court to intervene and stop the state from revoking his firearms licence.

He wants the Chief Licensing officer, the firearms Licensing Board and the Attorney General stopped from demanding his licence 'without following the due process set out in the Firearms Act'

In his court documents, through Counsel Fred Ngatia, he says the decision to withdraw his firearms license is in violation of section 5 (8) of the Firearms Act.

He claims he has not been informed of the reasons for the intended revocation despite being in possession of a license.

Jomo said when officers came demanding he surrenders his firearms on July 21, no reason was given.

"On inquiry as to the reasons if any, that had caused an abrupt demand for my firearms, the offices feigned ignorance," Jomo said.

He said he is apprehensive about strong-arm tactics that may be deployed, which is why he is pleading with the court to intervene.

He claims he has not been informed of the reasons for the intended revocation despite being in possession of a license.

"The grounds upon which a firearm license can be revoked are provided in section 5(7) of the Firearms Act, which when read with section 7 (2) (a) (v) of the fair administrative action act, cannot be invoked without being afforded an opportunity to be heard," Jomo said.

He said that unless his application is urgently admitted for hearing and orders sought granted, his constitutional rights will be violated.

According to the court documents, his license is valid until April 27, 2024.

The matter is yet to be heard.

On Friday, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said 23 firearms were recovered from three homes in Karen, Nairobi, following an operation launched after establishing that weapons used during demos were supplied by civilian gun holders.

"Today afternoon, an operation has been going on targeting three homesteads within the Karen area where a total of 23 firearms, some of which are suspected to have been used in illegal activities are kept," he said on Friday.

Former president Uhuru Kenyatta has since come out to defend his family against the onslaught daring the state to face him head-on instead of going for his family.

Uhuru vowed to defend his family no matter the cost.

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