High Court issues warrant of arrest against DCI boss George Kinoti

The High court has issued a warrant of arrest against the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti for contempt of court.

The court ordered Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to have the DCI boss arrested and presented before the court to face contempt of court charges after failing to return firearms confiscated from businessman Jimi Wanjigi in 2017.

"Whereas Mr George Maingi Kinoti has this day been charged before this court for contempt of court order pursuant to an order issued by Hon. Justice Mwita on the 21st June 2019. Therefore you are hereby commanded to apprehend the said Mr. George Maingi Kinoti and to bring him before this court to answer to the said charge and to be further dealth with according to law," reads the order.

Last month the DCI boss was sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of court after failing to comply with court orders to return firearms seized from businessman Jimi Wanjigi.

Justice Anthony Mrima had been directed to surrender to Kamiti Maximum Prison within 7 days, to the officer in charge of Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, failure to which the DPP  was to issue an arrest warrant against him.

The seven days lapsed on November 26.

Attorney-General Kihara Kariuki has since filed an application with the High Court, asking for Kinoti's sentence at the Kamiti Maximum Prison to be suspended pending the hearing and decision of his petition.

In his appeal, the AG argues that the contempt charges against Kinoti were misdirected because the Firearms Licencing Board is the custodian of firearms.