Cop arrested after losing rifle, 15 bullets in Kitale
A police officer was arrested in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, after losing his service rifle loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition under circumstances that are being investigated as possible negligence.
The officer was attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Trans Nzoia West on temporary deployment to help fast-track investigations by a multi-agency team.
According to police, the incident occurred on Sunday, November 1, 2026, after the officer went to watch a football match at Katakala Club within Kitale town at around 9pm.
He reportedly decided to return to Police Lines to rest but, upon reaching an area opposite Bongo Hotel, felt exhausted, sat down and fell asleep.
At around 11pm, he was reportedly awakened by two DCI officers and it was upon regaining consciousness that he discovered his Jericho pistol, loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and two mobile phones, an Oppo and a Tecno, were missing.
Following the incident, the officer was arrested and placed in police custody.
He is expected to face charges of losing a firearm through negligence.
This came as police intensified operations to recover two rifles that were robbed from two cops in Ruai, Nairobi in an attack. There are fears the weapons will be used to commit crimes elsewhere.
The attack occurred at around 1am on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when the officers were conducting beat patrols within Ruai Sub-County, police said.
According to police, members of the public alerted authorities after the officers were attacked and sustained serious head injuries.
The assailants also escaped with two AK-47 rifles belonging to the officers.
The injured officers were a police man and his female colleague.
The male sustained a deep cut at the back of his head and injuries to his hands. He was reportedly unresponsive when officers arrived at the hospital.
The female also suffered a deep cut at the back of her head and injuries to both hands but remained responsive.
The two were rushed to Reale Hospital in Utawala by members of the public before senior police officers, led by the Ruai Sub-County Police Commander, visited the facility.
Preliminary reports indicate that the attackers may have used a sharp object during the assault.
The stolen firearms were two AK-47 rifles, each loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.
