CAPTION: Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i during a past event. He has launched crackdown on NRM followers. [Photo/Nairobi News]
The High Court on Friday ordered the government to reinstate Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati’s security detail and his firearm.
Justice George Odunga issued the order after Arati filed a case at the Milimani Law Courts seeking to quash decision by Firearms Licensing Board to revoke his firearms licence.
The Board, through its Secretary Samuel Kimaru, had given the MP until the end of Thursday, February 1 to surrender his two firearms; a glock pistol and shotgun issued on November 12, 2015.
In a letter to the MP, Kimaru cited that Arati was unfit to be entrusted with firearms.
But the NASA legislator moved to court seeking orders to bar the government from seizing his guns, arguing that the decision constituted a threat to his rights and freedoms and those of his constituents whom he serves.
Arati 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.
The government has launched a crackdown on opposition lawmakers alleged to be members of National Resistance Movement (NRM) following the gazette notice by Interior Ministry that outlawed the movement on Tuesday.
There are reports that CS Fred Matiang’i has already withdrawn and disarmed opposition leaders who attended Raila Odinga on January 30 at Uhuru Park.
http://citizentv.co.ke/news/court-reinstates-mp-aratis-security-189841/