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A brave shopkeeper fought off three AK47 rifle-wielding robbers and managed to disarm them of the firearm in Korogocho, Nairobi on Saturday night.

The firearm, S/No. KP 60034486 loaded with nine rounds of ammunition was later found to belong to the Kenya Police Service.

Nairobi Region police commander Adamson Bungei confirmed the incident but said it was being ‘addressed internally’.

Bungei said investigations had been launched to establish the identity of the robbers and the circumstances surrounding the loss of the firearm.

“We will know who had it and at what time. It is clear the weapon belongs to Kenya Police,” he said.
According to the police, the gang of three men, one armed with an AK47 rifle and others with crude weapons, raided Highridge area of Korogocho at around 11pm.

They started robbing shop owners including George Kiragu who was robbed of Sh15,000. Another victim, Mohammed was robbed of Sh28,000, mobile phone and a wrist watch.

The gang then proceeded to the next shop but the shopkeeper resisted, resulting in a fierce fight. He sustained multiple stab wounds but managed to disarm the three of the rifle.

Dozens of police firearms have been lost mostly under unclear circumstances. On July 5, four rifles and a total of 110 rounds of ammunition were reported missing from Griftu police station armoury in Wajir West Sub-County.

Three AK47 rifles, one G3 rifle, 90 rounds of ammunition used in AK47 rifles and another 20 rounds of ammunition for G3 rifles were found missing but the armoury was not broken into.

The Arms Movement Records also indicated that the missing arms and ammunition were in the armoury.
“It was initially thought to be a misplacement but on further scrutiny, the rifles were discovered missing from the station armoury. The following were missing; G3 rifle Serial number G3 F89936, AK47 rifle serial number KP 5501679, AK47 rifle serial number 5503607, and AK47 rifle serial number 5522034,” a report to police headquarters read.

Investigations revealed that there are two keys to the armoury with both the station commanders and the armourer keeping each. As a result, the OCS Griftu and the armourer were arrested as investigations continue.

It is suspected that the missing firearms could have been sold to the al Shabaab militants wreaking havoc in the region. The area remains one of terror hotspots in Wajir County.

In another case on June 13, four robbery suspects were shot dead at Mkwajuni along Mombasa-Kilifi road and one of the AK47 rifles that was robbed of officers during the July 2021 Equity Matuu Branch raid recovered

One of the slain suspects, Festus Mutisya Kaloki alias Kamwana had recently been released on bond from court where he was charged with several counts of robbery, including robbery at Economy Way Supermarket at Manoni, Kiembeni on February 26 this year.

Kaloki and his accomplices were also being investigated over a spate of robberies within Mombasa County, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

In a well-planned covert operation, detectives from the DCI headquarters commenced surveillance of Kaloki after reports indicated that he was armed with the AK47 rifle that was being used in several robberies in Kwale, Machakos, Mombasa and other areas.

The AK47 rifle, serial number KE KP 5527115 was recovered and loaded with 7 rounds of ammunition.
The rifle is one of the firearms that was stolen on July 27 when five armed men raided Equity Bank after they disarmed two police officers.