Three Police Officers Arrested, Charged After AK47 Rifle Stolen From Police Station In Kirinyaga

Four people among them three police officers were on Wednesday charged at the Baricho Law Courts with allegedly stealing an AK47 rifle from Kabonge Police Station in Kirinyaga County.

The officers; Mark Kibet, Ian Karani Mutua, Eric Gachogu Mwangi and civilian Kennedy Mwangi, who is a robbery suspect, were charged that on February 2, 2024, at Kabonge Police Station in Kirinyaga West they conspired together to commit a felony namely stealing of an AK 47 firearm from police constable Mark Kibet.

On the second account, police officer Eric Gachogu Mwangi and civilian Kennedy Mwangi were jointly charged that on February 2, 2024, they stole the AK47 firearm loaded with a magazine of 30 rounds of ammunition being government property which had been assigned to Mark Kibet at Kabonge Police Station.

Kennedy Mwangi faced a third count where he was charged that on February 12, 2024, at Ndiriti village in Ndia and without reasonable excuse, he was found in possession of an AK47 firearm loaded with a magazine of 30 rounds without a certificate.

He further faced a fourth count of possession of 16 rounds of 7.62 x 39 mm special rounds of ammunition without a certificate.

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The four denied the charges before Baricho Senior Principal Magistrate  Stephen Nyaga where police officers Mark Kibet and Ian Karani Mutua were each released on a bond of Ksh.500,000.

Kennedy Mwangi and police officer Eric Gachogu were however denied bond after the prosecution led by Jane Maari opposed their release, noting that the two are being investigated over robbery cases and theft of firearms in Nyeri and Kirinyaga counties.

“They will be held at Kerugoya GK prison until March 7, 2024, for mention of their case,” Baricho  Senior Principal Magistrate Nyaga said.

 According to detectives, the firearm and ammunition which had been stolen from Kabonge Police Station were found buried in a shallow hole outside Mwangi’s house at Ndiriti village.

The firearm was stolen after the sentry and report office attendant stepped out of their areas of deployment leaving the firearm unattended at the reception.