Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has confirmed that the police raided three homes in Karen on Friday, July 21, 2023.
In a statement, Kindiki said that the police raided three homes in search of 23 firearms suspected to have been used to commit crimes during the ongoing protests.
“Today afternoon, an operation has been going on targeting three homesteads within the Karen area where a total of 23 firearms, some of which are suspected to have been used in illegal activities are kept,” Kindiki stated.
“Today’s operation is part of a broader operation targeting scores of firearm holders who are reasonably suspected to be availing firearms not only for purposes of supporting violent protests but also other illegal activities.”
He said that the police have already arrested the prime suspect who orchestrated violence during the anti-government protests.
The unnamed suspect is reported to have been found in possession of 14 machetes, 24 swords, 46 rungus, and over 300 sachets of assorted narcotic drugs.
“Security intelligence information has established that some of the weapons, including firearms and crude weapons which have been used to fuel violence during violent riots that have been experienced in the Country in the past few weeks are supplied by a wide network of civilian firearm holders and leaders of known criminal gangs,” Kindiki added.
“These civilian firearms and crude weapons are credibly suspected to have been used to harm law enforcement personnel and civilians alike during the violence that has been experienced recently.”
Kindiki said that the operation will continue across the country to cover civilian firearm holders who may be using the weapons in their possession to jeopardize national security.
“The operation is purely of a security nature and neither its politicization or sensationalisation will deter law enforcement agencies from ensuring that the Country remains safe and stable,” he added.
The statement by Kindiki comes a few minutes after the police raided the home of former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s firstborn son Jomo in Karen.
