Gun retrieved from lynched thugs ‘was stolen from police’

The firearm that was recovered on Saturday when three robbers were lynched in Marurui, Kasarani, in Nairobi county, was seized by a police officer in Parklands three years ago.

The three criminals, who are yet to be identified, had robbed trader Joseph Kariuki Ng’ang’a of Sh900,000 at gunpoint at about 10 pm as he was closing his shop.

Ng’ang’a decided to pursue them in his car along the Northern Bypass, hooting and shouting for help. “They then took off towards Shell Petrol Station and hopped onto a motorcycle, which sped towards Kiambu on the bypass road,” police said.

Kasarani sub-county police commander Peter Mwazo yesterday said the public responded fast and cornered the three.

Ng’ang’a said the gunmen robbed him of the cash, a Dell laptop worth Sh25,000, and airtime scratch cards worth Sh300,000. Officers rushed to the lynch scene and recovered a Jericho pistol. The cash and stolen items were not found.

Investigations revealed that the pistol had been stolen from Constable James Obiri, who was at the time stationed at Riruta Police Station but had earlier served at Parklands station.

Obiri was on June 20, 2019, at around 10.30 am found unconscious along Mtama Road in Parklands. Police officers rushed him to Avenue Hospital and later to Nairobi West Hospital.

“The doctor confirmed he had been induced with an opioid poison,” reads the report dated June 20, 2019. Opioids are drugs that include heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone, codeine, and morphine.

Then Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo said the officer had been given a pistol for patrol duties. “The gun, serial number 44330654 and loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, was for patrol duties. Although transferred, the officer was still staying at Parklands police station’s staff quarters,” he said.

Investigations have been launched to establish if the firearm had been used in armed robberies in Nairobi and its environs. “It has been taken for ballistic analysis,” an investigator said.

Cases of mob injustice have been on the rise, with at least four reported daily in Kenya.

Mob injustice is outlawed, and attracts assault or murder charges.

Two weeks ago, panic gripped Maralal Police Station after a constable stole his colleague’s AK47 rifle, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.

Mysterious theft

The firearm was recovered on June 9 but without the ammunition. Mystery surrounds the theft, with some officers fearing for their lives.

The firearm was reportedly stolen by Constable Lawrence Lekinit — a colleague of the suspect and a neighbour at the police station.

Officers raided the house of Constable Peter Mutembei where the firearm was found hidden in the ceiling. In March this year, unknown men shot dead a police officer and seriously injured another before stealing four G3 rifles and 197 rounds of ammunition at Lodokojek Police Post, Samburu West Sub-County.

Two days before, a gang shot dead a General Service Unit inspector and stole his firearm in Mochongoi, Baringo.