Police ordered to confiscate unregistered guns in Mombasa

Police in Coast region have been ordered to recover unauthorized guns in the hands of politicians and business people.

Addressing the media in Mombasa, Coast Regional Coordinator, Nelson Marwa, noted that there is a guns influx in the region saying that this compromises the security of the residents.

He said that the high number of guns in the hands of the civilians must be addressed with immediate effect failure to which cases of violence will continue going up.

The tough-speaking Marwa, specifically noted that influential politicians from the Coast hold firearms, some of which are not registered or were acquired irregularly.

He now wants police to conduct an audit of the firearms and confiscate the unregistered ones.

On the alleged withdrawal of security details of Governors Ali Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Amason Jeffa Kingi (Kilifi), Marwa said that the process was being politicized by a section of disgruntled leaders.

He, however, said that the recalling of the bodyguards attached to the two was not politically motivated as it affected all state officers in the Coast region.

He said that it was part of the regular security restructuring, noting that the two have already been accorded the necessary security.

Joho and Kingi’s security details were withdrawn last week over unknown reasons but have since been reinstated.

On Tuesday, January 10, Mombasa Senator, Omar Hassan, called on the government to investigate the number of guns owned by Joho saying that his security raises concerns.

Omar argued that Joho has between 15 – 20 armed guards and that he holds multiple firearms.