The government has ordered the family of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and close associates to surrender all guns registered to them by Monday, July 24, to Karen Police Station.
This comes two days after the police raided the home of the former president's son Jomo Kenyatta in search of guns that State claims are illegally registered and have been used in the recent wave of protests.
The state has indicated that the family has 28 registered firearms that they now want for ballistic examinations to determine whether the firearms were used during the three-day Azimio la Umoja mass protests.
The Interior Ministry has not stated what could happen to the family if they fail to surrender the firearm. The family is among the wealthiest and most influential families in Kenya, with investments spanning across different sectors including real estate, milk processing, schools and huge tracts of land.
Friday's raid was the first time the government was targeting the family of the former President who fell out with President William Ruto in his last term.
Ruto and his allies have accused Uhuru of financing the anti-government protests led by Azimio leader Raila Odinga, claims that the former president has denied.
Uhuru has also questioned the government's motive in targeting his family and calling out his name despite having retired and handed over power peacefully.
“If I am the problem, just come for me. My silence doesn’t imply fear. Come directly for me. Why involve my mother or my son in whatever is happening? Is it a crime for me to associate with Raila?” He posed.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki defended the officers' raid, indicating that it was an operation conducted on three homes in Karen, Nairobi, including Jomo Kenyatta's.
He noted that police had recovered 23 guns from the raid in the other two homes.
"Today (Friday's) operation is part of a broader operation targeting scores of firearm holders who are reasonably suspected to be availing firearms not only for purposes of supporting violent protests but also for other illegal activities," Kindiki stated.
