Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have recovered a firearm stolen from a police officer in 2019, in a sting operation.
In a statement on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, DCI said ballistic experts had managed to link the firearm – Jericho Pistol Serial Number KE KP44330654 – to at least 28 robbery incidents targeting M-Pesa agents in Nairobi.
During the robberies, DCI revealed, the thugs killed several people including police officers and made away with more than Ksh10 million from M-Pesa agents alone.
“Since its disappearance, the firearm has been the cause of untold suffering to city residents. It has been used to commit 28 robbery with violence incidents in Kasarani, Makadara, Kayole, Kamukunji, Dandora, Buruburu, Ruai, Kikuyu, Embakasi and Karatina,” DCI said.
PUZZLE OF FIREARM SNATCHED FROM A POLICE OFFICER, USED TO TERRORIZE CITY RESIDENTS FOR 3 YEARS
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) July 6, 2022
On June 20,2019, a report was filled at Parklands police station regarding a male person who was lying motionless besides Mtama road in Highridge, Parklands area at around 10am. pic.twitter.com/6GDL8SdNSu
Three suspects linked to the robberies have since been eliminated in recent operations.
“Some have lost their lives while others bear permanent bullet marks that will forever be a sad reminder of their encounter with the bloodthirsty gang,” the George Kinoti-led directorate added.
“Police officers have not been spared either as some continue nursing wounds, inflicted by the thugs who escaped several police dragnets.”
The gun was stolen from a police officer after he was drugged at a city joint.
The officer was found lying unconscious on Mtama Road in Highridge, Parklands area on June 20, 2019, at around 10:00 am after a night of fun with women linked to a drink-spiking gang in the city.
The cop was at the time stationed at Riruta police station on special duties. He was identified by officers from Parklands police station where he previously worked.
“The officer was rushed to Avenue hospital but his condition worsened, prompting his transfer him to Nairobi West hospital for specialized treatment,” DCI said.
“Unknown to the officers, their colleague was a victim of the vicious gang of women who until recently had taken city nightclubs by storm and were spiking drinks belonging to male patrons with highly potent drugs meant for patients with mental disorders, before robbing them of their valuables.”
Detectives have since established that the women, who stupefied the officer’s drink were part of a dangerous drink-spiking syndicate, operating under slain gangster Samuel Mugo Muvota, who was shot dead in cold blood in May, by people suspected to be his associates after a deal gone sour.
Apparently, the women later hired out the gun to criminals operating in Kayole, who have been terrorising city residents for the last three years.
“According to intelligence reports gathered by detectives based at the Crime Research & Intelligence Bureau, the firearm was then hired to gangsters operating from Kayole, who for the past three years have terrorized over 30 M-Pesa agents in the city,” DCI revealed.
