Detectives in Kitale have nabbed a daring imposter who infiltrated Kitale Police Station and made off with a loaded police firearm following a rapid response operation that led to the recovery of the weapon.

Taking it to their social media handles on Friday, May 22, 2026, the DCI has said that the incident occurred on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, when a man disguised in a police raincoat allegedly walked into Kitale Police Station posing as a newly posted officer from Eldoret. With convincing confidence, he engaged officers at the gate and requested assistance in securing accommodation within the police lines.

“On Wednesday, 20th May 2026, a man wearing a police raincoat claimed to be a newly posted police officer from Eldoret and walked into Kitale Police Station, where he threatened to kill the officers who had detained him,” the DCI statement read in part.

“The man stormed Kitale Police Station on Wednesday, 20th May 2026, saying he was a newly posted officer from Eldoret and was going to kill the officers who had taken him into custody. He took officers at the gate by storm with convincing ease and asked for help to get a place to stay within the police lines,” the DCI statement added.

In a well-planned ploy, the detectives said that the person of interest freed one officer from his duties, then quietly took the officer’s loaded Steyr rifle that had 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition loaded into it.

Moments later, the DCI reported that the person of interest left on a motorcycle that had been waiting, and people were alerted to the security situation.

Security agencies immediately started an investigation and intelligence sharing, and a public response was issued. The DCI has further noted that information collected from the public led investigators to Sokomoko Village in Sitatunga Location, Trans Nzoia East Sub-county, who were believed to be the culprits.

Rifle recovery

On the tip-off, officers from Sibanga embarked on a focused search and arrested a 22-year-old. A search at the scene resulted in the recovery of the stolen Steyr rifle, complete with 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

The person of interest, according to the statement by the detective, has since been arrested and is being processed until he can be arraigned before a judge.

Officers’ immediate action and the timely and actionable intelligence provided by members of the public are being acknowledged by security authorities such as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who praised them for their promptness in responding. The recovery was described as a good example of the effective police-public partnership in combating crime.

The DCI has since reminded the members of the public to stay vigilant and keep reporting anything suspicious via its anonymous reporting system.