Police urge Kenyans to share information on illicit firearms amid rise in arrests countrywide

Increasing arrests of persons with illicit arms in the country now raises concerns over the proliferation of Small and Light Weapons.

Over the last few weeks, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has released details of arrests made in Nairobi, Laikipia, Meru and different parts of the country, amidst calls by the National Police Service for Kenyans with information to share with them through the official channels.

"The National Police Service would like to launch an appeal to all persons who are holding illegal firearms to voluntarily surrender the same to security agencies, including police stations," NPS implored early last month.

In the latest incident that happened on Tuesday, a team of detectives and General Service Unit personnel arrested a robbery suspect named; Renkel Lentaam, 46, who was found in possession of a Carbine Rifle and 53 rounds of ammo in Nanyuki town.

The suspect took the officers to where he had hidden his stash at Mukogo forest, from where the recovery was made.

On the same day, police officers raided a home in Lodwar village, Meru County and recovered four firearms including two G3 rifles, a Mini Beretta, a Carbine AK47 and 22 rounds of ammunition and other crude weapons.

The main suspect in the incident managed to flee the location, but a search for him has since been launched.

The find was made barely hours after a missing police firearm was recovered loaded with 23 rounds of ammunition near the Githurai police post's gate.

"Preliminary investigations suggest that the same had been reported missing after a female police officer was attacked by three men and robbed of the said firearm on February 16, 2024, while on night duty at Kiwanjani area in Nairobi," NPS said.

Other weapons have been recovered during the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu in North Rift.

Isiolo Sub County police commander Edward Kang'ara displays one of the four firearms recovered in Daaba, Ngaremara ward on May 2, 2024. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu)

On May 9, an AK 47 rifle loaded with 28 rounds of ammo was handed over to the police by an illegal holder from Suguta Marmar in Samburu County.

A week before, four other rifles including a G3 and three AK 47 rifles had again been surrendered by suspected bandits prompting a call for amnesty to them that surrendered theirs to security agencies including National Government Administration Officials.

On April 22, IG Koome in a statement said a total of 2,658 ammunition had been recovered from the home of Josphat Maina Karanja in the Minjore area, Laikipia County following an intelligence-led raid that revealed that police officers have been selling bullets to criminals.

The suspect was arrested alongside his wife, Teresia Wairimu and arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts.

"Two more suspects namely; Chief Inspector Joel Warui Githaiga and Constable Martin Murimi from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit's Sondu Camp have also been arrested for the sale of ammunition to criminals," the IG said and announced that the officers have since been suspended from service.

"The service would like to caution members of the public from engaging in the unauthorised purchase, possession, manufacture and sale of firearms and ammunition instead, report any such criminal activities to the nearest police station or through our toll-free numbers," added the IG who vowed to take stern action against officers getting involved in such unethical conduct regardless of their ranks.

Police recovered an AK-47 rifle, 23 rounds of ammunition and three mobile phones after the security operation in Samburu County on March 16, 2024. (Photo: NPS)

On April 3, a police officer recovered his lost firearm loaded with eight bullets from a shallow home where it had been buried within Kiandutu slums, in Kiambu County by the thugs who robbed him on March 29 aboard a bodaboda.

The gun was loaded with 10 bullets by the time it went missing.

The main suspect was arrested and is under probe for past robberies with violent cases in the area.

On April 2, a Ceska pistol loaded with 15 rounds was stolen from a car that had been taken for cleaning at a car wash in the Hurlingham area.

The owner, a licensed holder, claimed he had gone for lunch when he left the car getting cleaned only to return and find it missing.

The cases are happening in the wake of the government's pledge to fight against the proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) that fuel banditry and cattle rustling in the North Rift, criminal gangs' activities in urban areas and conflict in the neighbouring countries.

Kenya is a member of the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), a member states regional body mandated with mopping up Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) in the region to ensure sustainable peace and security.

The centre has been calling for proper securing of its member states' stockpiles and conducting training to facilitate the same.

Last year, the Ministry of Interior declared that starting this year, all privately owned guns will get marked with unique identifiers to prevent their illegal transfer and trafficking in and outside the country.

The process was set to begin after the marking process for those owned by the police and the military had concluded.