Mandera Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Wasike has ordered, Jamila Maalim Hussein Eymoi, 24 to remain in custody after she denied charges of being in possession of an illegal firearm without a permit.
The magistrate agreed with the prosecution that the woman is likely to abscond court if released on cash bail or surety bail and the accused is a flight risk as further investigations are in progress.
When brought before Wasike on April 22, the accused who was arrested at Busley area within Mandera East Sub County pleaded guilty to possessing the illegal firearm but on Thursday she denied charges citing language barrier in the first hearing and she never understood the crime she was accused of.
Jamila was arraigned before the Principal Magistrate’s Court at Mandera on an account of being in possession of a firearm contrary to section 4A (2) (a) of the Firearms Act cap 114 Laws of Kenya, being in possession of ammunition without holding a certificate C/sec 4(2) (a) as read section 4(3) (a) of the firearms cap 114 of Law of Kenya and entering Kenya through a place not designated as point of entry.
According to police report, Jamila was arrested on April 20 by a team of ATPU and CID officers while acting on intelligence found the accused in possession on an AK -47 rifle stolen from a Somalia Police Officer.
In Kenya, possession of firearms without a firearms certificate is illegal, it is indeed very difficult to obtain for individuals outside the police and military, although it may be granted if the applicant can prove that a gun is necessary for their job or another activity.
Firearms ownership in Kenya is regulated by the Firearms Licensing Board, also known as the Firearms Bureau.
According to Mandera State Prosecutor Mr Allan Mulama, the AK-47 gun has been sent to Nairobi for forensic ballistic examination.
Mandera police boss George Sedah stated that police managed to get the gun at a house where the accused was first seen. He added that the accused had plans to sell the gun to locals in Mandera.
The police boss appealed to residents to be cautious and vigilant and report any case to police. The case will be mentioned on May 4 this year.
By Charles Matacho
