A wave of audacious thefts targeting law enforcement officers has rattled the National Police Service after three firearms, including two AK-47 rifles and one G3 rifle, were stolen in two separate incidents within just two days.
The first incident occurred in Menengai, Nakuru County, where a lone police officer was attacked by unknown assailants and robbed of his AK-47 rifle. According to police reports, the officer was later found lying outside the Ngata Police Post with a severe head injury. He appeared disoriented and was unable to explain how or where the attack took place. The stolen rifle was reportedly loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition at the time of the assault.
In the second incident, suspected burglars broke into the armoury at Maguguni Police Station in Thika, Kiambu County, making away with another AK-47 rifle, a G3 rifle, and approximately 150 rounds of ammunition. A police officer on patrol discovered the break-in after hearing dogs barking near the armoury. Upon inspection, he found that one of the iron sheets on the wall had been pried open and the padlock to the armoury broken. Inside, the steel storage box had been forced open, and the weapons were missing.
Investigations have been launched into both incidents, which occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are pursuing leads to establish whether the two incidents are linked or part of a wider scheme targeting police firearms.
The thefts come just days after DCI officers arrested four suspects accused of stealing a firearm from a police officer who had been deployed to provide security during the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bodyguard. The firearm was reportedly stolen from an officer escorting Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa during the ceremony on October 19.
Authorities have since heightened security and urged officers to remain vigilant as investigations continue.
