This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
Kenyan socialite Vera Sidika has found herself at the center of controversy after sharing a photo of her gun on Snapchat.
According to her post, which was made public on July 11, 2020, Sidika was issuing a warning to her haters, saying 'Bad energy stay farrrrr away.'
However, her actions have sparked debate about gun ownership and public safety in Kenya, particularly in the wake of the B Club shooting incident where Embakasi East MP allegedly shot DJ Evolve.
Under Kenyan law, owning a firearm can cost between Sh100, 000 and Sh350, 000, but improper exhibition of a firearm can land one in serious legal trouble.
Article 88 of the penal code prohibits brandishing of weapons in public, stating that 'any person who goes armed in public without lawful occasion in such a manner as to cause terror to any person is guilty of a misdemeanour, and his arms may be forfeited.'
It remains to be seen whether Sidika's actions will have any legal consequences, but one thing is certain - her decision to flaunt her gun has sparked a heated debate about gun ownership and public safety in Kenya.
