Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho risks being arrested if he does not immediately return all the firearms in his possession. Interior Cabinet Secretary Maj-Gen (rtd) Joseph Nkaissery says the government had taken the step against the governor because of recent events surrounding the politician’s life.
He was referring to the closure by the Kenya Revenue Authority of Container Freight Stations (CFS) owned by Mr Joho’s family but opposition politicians have dismissed that theory, insisting Mr Joho was being punished for standing firm in the Orange Democratic Movement and leading campaigns for the Malindi by-election which the governing coalition lost.
“It was not about his political stand,” Mr Nkaissery said at a late afternoon press conference on Saturday as quoted by Sunday Nation. “The government realised there were unresolved issues on CFSs and a decision was made to withdraw the gun licence.”
Nkaissery said if investigations show the issues regarding the CFSs are okay, he will have his guns back.
“His chest thumping that guns cannot be taken away is crossing the red line,” said the minister. “Behind the scenes, he is cooperating with the police but engaging in theatrics in public. Nobody can be bold enough to compete with government. You can’t challenge the government. Do not be mistaken on the government’s resolve.”
The the Sunday Nation reports that six opposition politicians from the Coast have had their police bodyguards withdrawn after the Malindi by-election which the ODM candidate William Mtengo won. The withdrawal of the guns has provoked a furious reaction from the opposition on the basis that policemen guarding Jubilee coalition politicians have not been similarly sanctioned.
The leaders affected include governors Joho and Amason Kingi, who led the campaigns for the ODM candidate, and MPs Mishi Juma (Mombasa Woman Rep), Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi Woman Rep), Abdulswamad Nassir (Mvita) and Irshad Sumra (Embakasi).
The six were active throughout voting day on Monday. Authorities have claimed their bodyguards were involved in violence between them and Jubilee coalition politicians who were campaigning for Mr Philip Charo, the Jubilee Alliance Party candidate.
Coast Regional Commissioner Nelson Marwa came closest to an official explanation for the action, saying on Wednesday: “Somebody has to take responsibility for whatever happened in Malindi, be it Joho, Kingi or Jumwa without considering the position they hold.”
Mr Marwa, who was characteristically tough-talking during the meeting in Lungalunga, Kwale County, went on: “Are these people gods? Why must some people and their goons break the law with impunity and go scot-free? Somebody is going to take responsibility for this,” he said without going into details.
Mr Joho, a licensed firearms holder, was ordered on Thursday to surrender his three guns in a letter signed by Chief Firearms Licensing Officer Samuel Kimaru. On Friday, the Mombasa Governor declared he would not obey the order on the basis that he has never misused the weapons in the more than 20 years he has had them.
But Mr Nkaissery said the governor will be investigated for refusing to obey police directives to surrender his licence to own a gun. “It is a privilege to own a gun, because you shouldn’t own a gun. You are not supposed to own a gun because government protects you, therefore the privilege shouldn’t be abused,” he said.
He said that officers that were guarding the governor were under investigation over their conduct in Malindi.
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