Suspected thieves break into Nyeri hotel residence, escape with licensed firearm

FILE IMAGE OF A POLICE LINE

Police in Nyeri County have launched investigations after a burglary at a residence within a hotel compound led to the theft of several items, including a licensed firearm.

The incident was reported on March 8, 2026 at about 12:30 p.m. by an employee working for the hotel proprietor.

Police said the burglary occurred during the night of March 7–8 at a house located within the Alumond Acres Hotel compound in Githima Location.

The suspects allegedly broke into the residence and stole several items including a 65-inch Conquer television set, an Apple laptop, five VHF communication radios, and keys to a safe where the owner normally stores firearms and other valuables.

Investigators established the owner of the firearm had left the hotel on February 28 for Nairobi before travelling to Cape Town in South Africa, where his family resides.

Before leaving, he reportedly secured his residence and stored a CANIK pistol in a safe located in the bedroom wardrobe.

The firearm was kept together with 18 rounds of 9mm ammunition and an empty magazine among personal documents.

The man who is a licensed firearm holder, later returned to Kenya on March 3 but remained in Nairobi.

However, police observations at the scene have raised questions about the reported break-in. Investigators noted that the bathroom window believed to have been used for entry appeared to have been cut from the inside, suggesting it may have been used as an exit rather than a point of entry.

The safe that contained the firearm had also been removed from its fixed position and broken into, but investigators found nothing inside, indicating that the pistol may have been taken along with the other items.

Authorities say the circumstances surrounding the burglary remain unclear, especially since no one had access to the house during the owner’s absence.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have taken over the case as efforts continue to trace the missing firearm and establish how the break-in occurred.

There are about 15,000 licensed gun holders in the country. They go through a rigorous process before they get permits to own the weapons.