Panic as officer’s stolen rifle recovered in his colleague’s house

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 9 Jun, 2022 17:01 | < 1 min read
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Police vehicle. PHOTO/Courtesy

Panic has gripped Maralal police station after a Police Constable stole his colleague's AK47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition in unclear circumstances.

While the firearm, (without the rounds of ammunition) was recovered today in the morning, mystery still surrounds the theft with some officers expressing fear for their lives.

The firearm had been reported to have been stolen by Constable Lawrence Lekinit who is the suspect’s colleague and neighbour at the station, prompting a search.

Acting on a tip-off, officers raided the house of Constable Peter Mutembei where the firearm was found hidden in the ceiling, however, the magazine and the rounds of ammunition were missing.

Mutembei has since been arrested and is currently being interrogated alongside his wife and another woman found in the house.

“The officer, his wife Kanana John and another suspect identified as Esther Wanjiru who were found in the house have been arrested and placed in custody. Efforts to recover the rifle magazine with 30 rounds of ammunition are still ongoing,” a brief to police headquarters read.

In March this year, unknown men shot dead a police officer and seriously injured another before stealing four G3 rifles and a total of 197 rounds of ammunition at Lodokojek police post, Samburu West Sub-County.

The men struck the post about 40km from the Maralal police station and only found two officers around. They were however caught unawares as they were shot inside their houses.

The daring night attack happened just two days after a gang shot a General Service Unit (GSU) Inspector dead and stole his firearm in Mochongoi, Baringo.