Police have retrieved a Ceska pistol stolen from a civilian firearm holder in January, hailing from Kahawa Sukari.
The recovery comes after a series of events that unfolded near the Thika Level V hospital, leading to a search at a wounded man’s residence in Makongeni, Thika.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the man was targeted in a hail of bullets as he passed near Thika Level V Hospital.
“Detectives have recovered a Ceska pistol which was robbed from a civilian firearm holder in Kahawa Sukari on January 2023, following a search at a wounded man’s house in Makongeni, Thika. The search and subsequent recovery of the weapon followed an alarm raised by members of the public that an unknown man had been sprayed with bullets near the Thika Level V hospital yesterday, by an occupant riding in a Toyota Probox which then sped off,” the DCI stated
Detectives stated that the attacker, in a Toyota Probox, escaped in minutes. The police were sent to the location after being alerted by people who had raised a red flag regarding the injured man who lay unconscious and was critically ill.
Through the timely intervention of the medical officers and the police, he was saved from losing so much blood.
Though capable of communication, the victim refused to disclose his name. In response, the officers initiated a forensic identification process that ultimately revealed his identity.
Subsequently, they traced the man to his place of residence at Gireki Plaza, located in the Kiganjo area of Makongeni.
As in most cases, there was a search of the man’s residence which resulted in an important finding. A Ceska pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition which had been reported as stolen in Kahawa Sukari was recovered under the carpet. With the firearm, there was also a roll of bhang (cannabis).
“A search therein saw the recovery of the Ceska pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition which was hidden under the carpet alongside a roll of bhang,” the statement read in part.
According to the initial investigation, the firearm is believed to be among those used during a violent incident in Kahawa Sukari in January.
The attackers during that incident were two armed men on an unregistered motorbike, who tried to approach a firearms license holder during a building site.
The victims lost their guns, mobile phones, as well as cash. The same suspects attacked three people at Landless Section 2 and stole their mobiles and money on the same day. The police said they are not sure whether he was assaulted by unknown individuals as previously thought.
“On the same day (January 28), the two suspects who were on a robbery spree also confronted three citizens at Landless Section 2 where the trio was visiting the site of a parcel of land they had purchased. Their mobile phones and money were also robbed at gunpoint,” the statement added.
The injured man who is now alleged to have committed a series of violent robberies is receiving medical services while under police guard.
“Now being treated as a suspect of violent robberies, the patient remains under police guard pending his recuperation, formal arrest and arraignment. The pursuit for his shooters is also ongoing,” the statement added.
