Gun owners move to court over Matiangi fresh vetting directive

The Association of Civilian Gun owners has now moved to court challenging a government decision that all firearm holders should undergo fresh vetting.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i last month issued a notice revoking all firearm licences to pave way for fresh vetting.

“All preferential certifications and special considerations that might have been accorded earlier for specific civilian firearms holders under whichever circumstances are hereby abrogated with an immediate effect,” said the CS, in a statement.

In the petition filed at the Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, the gun owners want the directive suspended until their case is heard and determined.

The association is also challenged the State’s decision to suspend the license for their outdoor shooting range in Gitata Farm at Kirigiti, Kiambu County, saying the move is illegal.

They further claim the decision by the Interior CS that declared the Sterling – Patchett MK5, CZ Scorpion EVo 3 and MP5 as prohibited firearms is unlawful.

The vetting exercise for fresh licences is expected to begin on December 17, 2018 and will be carried out by the Firearms Licensing Board (FLB), which, according to CS Matiang’i, seeks to establish, maintain and monitor a centralized electronic register of all private citizens holding firearms.

Only officers in the National Police Service, the Kenya Wildlife Service, military personnel in the Kenya Defence Forces and members of other security agencies will be exempted from the vetting.