A Magistrate’s Court has granted businessman Jimi Wanjigi a bond of Ksh10 million, pending a ruling on whether his plea-taking for allegations of possessing unlicensed firearms will be deferred.
Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi also ordered Wanjigi to surrender his passport to the court until the ruling is delivered on September 12, 2024.
This development follows Wanjigi’s application to postpone the plea, arguing that his rights had been violated. His legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite, along with Kalonzo Musyoka and Willis Otieno, represented him in court.
Wanjigi’s lawyers informed the court that a High Court order issued by Justice Bahati Mwamuye had prohibited his arrest and detention over the firearms matter.
“Postponing the plea will give us an opportunity to challenge the High Court, considering that a valid court order was in effect at the time of his arrest,” Paul Muite argued in court.
Muite further stated that it was unacceptable for the police to disregard and violate court orders.
Additionally, Otieno pointed out that during the police raid on Wanjigi’s home, only iPhones, iPads, and three flags were seized—none of which involved a search warrant. He questioned the basis of presenting charges for disobedience of court orders under these circumstances.
Wanjigi has denied the allegations that he refused to surrender firearms as required by the State. He clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that a 2018 court ruling had invalidated the Firearms Licensing Board’s decision to revoke his firearms certificate number 5922.
The court is scheduled to deliver its ruling on these matters on September 12.
