NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 6- Following a directive by the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, the Firearm Licensing Board on Saturday revoked licenses belonging to two Members of Parliament, following the latest violence witnessed in Bungoma County during the recent by-election.
The legislators are Didmus Barasa and Fred Kapondi.
The two Members of Parliament are required to surrender their firearm certificates and the firearms in their possession.
The board chairperson Charles Mukindia issued a 24 hour ultimatum for the legislators, saying they should also surrender any ammunition in their possession.
“Failure to comply will attract legal sanctions from the enforcement agency with the attendant consequences,” Mukindia said in a statement.
He said the revocation is anchored on the Firearms Act Cap 114 of the Laws of Kenya, Section 7 and Section 33 of the law.
The board said it will continue monitoring cases of misuse of firearms and more so now when the country is gearing towards an electioneering period.
The move is likely to elicit a myriad reactions from politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto, since both legislators are his supporters.
Legislators arrested following the violence include: Senator Samson Cherargei, MPs Barasa, Nelson Koech and Wilson Kogo.
They were on Friday charged with preparing to commit a felony by causing election violence. They were also charged with refusing to have their finger prints taken by the police.
They all denied the charges and were released on a Kenya shillings 50 thousand cash bail. The case is set for hearing on the 4th, April,2021.
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