DCI Director George Kinoti Sentenced to Four Months in Prison

A Nairobi court has sentenced the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti to four months in prison for contempt.

In a ruling on Thursday, High Court Judge Anthony Murima directed Inspector-General of Police Hilary Mutyambai to ensure Kinoti is arrested and taken to prison to serve the sentence.

Kinoti was handed the sentence for failing to execute a court order to surrender firearms seized from businessman Jimi Wanjigi.

“In the event, Kinoti fails to avail himself as ordered, a warrant of arrest will be issued against him. The warrant of arrest will be forthwith executed by the IG. In the further event that the IG fails to execute the warrant of arrest the same shall remain valid and be executed at any time including when Kinoti leaves office,” the judge ordered.

The firearms were confiscated in October 2017 after detectives raided Wanjigi’s residence in Muthaiga, Luedecke & Co. Ltd offices at Uganda House, and Armame Kenya Ltd situated at Utalii House in Nairobi.

In 2020, Wanjigi filed a contempt of court case against Kinoti after he failed to return the firearms as directed in a past court ruling.

The DCI maintains that some of the guns seized from the billionaire are high-tech and should not be in the hand of a civilian. The agency also argues that Wanjigi lacks legal clearance to have some of the weapons.

The firearms in question include a Smith and a Wesson pistol, a mini Archer assault rifle, a Glock pistol, and an M4CQ assault rifle.