A police officer at Karatu Police Station in Gatundu South, Kiambu County, was arrested after his loaded AK-47 rifle mysteriously went missing while he was taking a nap.
The officer identified as a Police Constable had been on duty at the report office on Monday night and handed over to a colleague on Tuesday morning at around 6 am.
He took his state issued AK-47 rifle, serial number 5524595, to his quarters, placing it next to his bed before falling asleep.
Upon waking up, he discovered the rifle missing and reported the incident, leading to an operation to recover the lost firearm involving various police units and security teams.
In a police report the cop detailed his account of being relieved from duty, carrying the rifle to his house, and subsequently realizing it was missing after waking up.
How it happened
“It was reported by No.124987 PC Benson Otenda, that he was relieved from his place of duty today at the report office at 0605hrs and handed over to no.249946 PC Leonard Kimani,” read the police report in part.
“Otenda later proceeded to his house carrying his rifle AK 47 s/n. 5524595 without returning it to the armory and placed it besides his bed and fell asleep.”
“Upon waking up at around 1000hrs he could not find it and subsequently cannot account for the rifle with 30 rounds of ammunition.”
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The incident prompted an immediate response from law enforcement, with a search team deployed to locate the missing weapon.
“The scene was visited by CIPU commander, SCCIO and OCS Gatundu South. The sub county team was later joined by county security team comprising the CPC, CIPU and CCIO,” further read the police report.
Similar Cases of Police Officers Losing their Firearms
This is not the first time a police officer has faced consequences for losing a firearm under their care.
In a similar incident, two police officers were in February arrested in Kirinyaga County after a loaded AK-47 rifle went missing under unclear circumstances at Kabonge Police Station.
The officers were on duty when the gun reportedly got lost.
Kirinyaga West Sub-County police boss, Moses Koskei, warned that losing a gun was a serious offense and that the officers could face disciplinary action if found culpable.
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“Losing a gun is a serious offence and should it be established that the officers are in the wrong, then they will be relieved of their duties and charged in court,” he said.
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