According to the letter dated March 10, Firearms Chief Licensing Officer Samuel Kimaru stated that the Mombasa Governor ‘is no longer fit to be entrusted with a licensed gun/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 12 – Police have formally written to Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho ordering him to surrender his licensed firearms with immediate effect
According to the letter dated March 10, Firearms Chief Licensing Officer Samuel Kimaru stated that the Mombasa Governor ‘is no longer fit to be entrusted with a licensed gun.’
Following the revocation of the Firearm Certificate, Kimaru clarified that Joho is now illegally in possession of a rifle and two pistols and must surrender them personally to him or to the County Police Commander.
“I would also remind you that in view of this revocation, you are now illegally in possession of the following firearms, Rifle 375 S/No. G10152273, Pistols S/No CHH 692 and VFR 841 and all ammunition thereof,” read Kimaru’s letter.
The Mombasa Governor on Friday said he will disobey the directive saying he legally acquired the gun and the government cannot repossess it without a valid reason, while insisting the move is politically motivated.
READ: Joho says won’t surrender gun as directed on phone
Governor Joho says he has not misused the firearm for the 20 years he has held it, since issuance by the government.
“As a citizen of this great nation of Kenya, we have the right to administrative action that is expeditious, efficient, lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair according to Article 47 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of this country,” he said.
“I consider the demand to withdraw my firearm unprocedural and done in extreme bad faith.”
As a Governor, he said it was unreasonable to withdraw his security detail and the attempts to repossess his firearm.
“Given the unique circumstances of my service to the people of Mombasa and Kenya at large, I would like to state that I consider it unreasonable to withdraw this security detail without a clear explanation of the same,” he said.
Governor Joho however links his latest problems to politics and specifically the recent concluded Malindi by-election where the ODM candidate emerged the winner.
Police headquarters has since denied claims by Joho of his security being withdrawn and clarified that it was only scaled down to five.
Police Spokesman Charles Owino said Joho was initially assigned 15 security officers and 10 were withdrawn in line with a new policy requiring all Governors to have a maximum of five.
READ: Joho security not withdrawn, only scaled down – Police
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