Two police officers from the National Police Service (NPS) were arraigned in court on Monday, April 22, accused of selling ammunition to criminals.
This comes after a recovery of 2,658 rounds of ammunition in Laikipia County.
In a statement by the National Police Service (NPS), it was revealed that two suspects, Josphat Karanja and his wife Teresiah Wairimu were initially arrested in connection to the recovery of the large cache of ammunition.
Also Read:
However, the investigation took a different turn as two additional suspects, Chief Inspector Joel Warui Githaiga and Police Constable Martin Murimi from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit Sondu Camp, were apprehended for their alleged involvement in the illicit sale of the ammunition to the suspected criminals.
"Following the recovery of 2,658 ammunitions in Laikipia County as reported vide the National Police Service (NPS) official social media platforms on April 18, 2024 in which Josphat Karanja and his wife Teresiah Wairimu were arrested, two more suspects namely No. 235135 Chief Inspector Joel Warui Githaiga and No. 114573 Police Constable Martin Murimi from Anti-Stock Theft Unit Sondu Camp have also been arrested for sale of ammunitions to criminals," NPS said.
The accused officers were brought before the court today where a Miscellaneous Application was filed seeking custody of the suspects for four days, a request which the court granted.
NPS officers suspended
NPS said the four suspects are now scheduled to appear before the Kibera Law Court on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Meanwhile, NPS said the officers have been suspended immediately pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
"The Officers were arraigned before Court today April 22, 2024, in a Miscellaneous Application seeking custody of the accused persons for a period of 4 days which was granted. All four suspects will now appear before Kibera Law Court on Friday, April 26, 2024, while the Officers remain suspended from the National Police Service with immediate effect. The Service would like to caution members of the public from engaging in the unauthorized purchase, possession, manufacture and sale of firearms and ammunition and instead report any such criminal activities to the nearest police station or through our toll-free numbers; 999,911,112 or FichuakwaDCI 0800722203," the statement read further.
NPS issued a cautionary statement urging the public to refrain from engaging in unauthorized purchase, possession, manufacture, and sale of firearms and ammunition.
Instead, they encouraged citizens to report such criminal activities to the nearest police station or through their toll-free number.
UPDATE ON RECOVERY OF 2,658 AMMUNITIONS IN LAIKIPIA COUNTY pic.twitter.com/w0IKJKWnYZ— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) April 22, 2024
