Court reinstates MP Arati’s security

By Justus Netia

High court judge George Odunga has ordered the government to reinstate Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati’s security detail and his firearms.

This comes just a day after the MP filed a case at the Milimani law courts seeking to quash decision by Firearms Licensing Board to revoke the MP’s firearm licence.

In his argument, Arati said that the respondent’s decision constituted a threat to his rights and freedoms and those of his constituents whom he serves.

The legislator further claimed that his freedom of security and movement had been greatly prejudiced as a result of the revocation of his firearm certificate adding that he cannot move freely or interact with his constituents as he is mandated to as an elected leader.

In a notice dated January 30, the Firearms Licensing Board revoked the MP’s firearm certificate and ordered the legislator to surrender his firearms.

“In accordance with the Provisions of the Firearms Act Cap 114 Laws of Kenya your Firearm Certificate No. 10242 issued to you on 12 November 2015 is with effect from the date of this notice, revoked as the Firearms Licensing Board is satisfied that the revocation is warranted under section 3(5) (b) and section 5(7) of the above mentioned Act for reasons that you are unfit to be entrusted with a firearm anymore,” read the notice issued by the board’s Secretary Samuel Kimaru.

Mr. Arati had been given until the end of Thursday, February 1 to surrender his two firearms; a glock pistol and shotgun but moved to court seeking orders to bar the government from seizing his guns.