Gang breaks into Kisumu armoury, steals three rifles  

Administration Police officers head into a sugarcane plantation in Miwani, Kisumu County in search of stolen firearms on March 29, 2020. Three rifles and 155 rounds of ammunition were stolen from Kibos Police Post on Saturday PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The search operation is led by Nyanza Regional DCI boss James Kipsoi and Regional Police Commander Vincent Makokha.  

  • Area residents raised complaints that the criminals could cause mayhem during the curfew period.

Top police officers in Kisumu are combing sugarcane plantations in the county in search of stolen firearms. A gang raided Kibos Police Post in Muhoroni on Saturday night and stole three rifles.

Sgt David Makali, who is in charge of the police post, said no arrests have been made.

Sgt Makali said he was informed about the incident by Constable Peter Ochieng Odenyo.   

Sgt Makali said: “I rushed to the scene and found the armoury's steel door open and three rifles -- A G3 S/No. 6927465, A LIAI S/No. A72300 and AN MP5 S/No. 7612953 -- missing.”

MAGAZINES MISSING

Also missing were two G3 magazines, two MPS magazines, 135 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 20 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition.

“The padlock to the armoury door was missing. Reinforcement was called from Miwani Police Station and the officers are combing nearby sugarcane plantations as footprints could not be traced due to a heavy downpour,” states the police report.

The search operation is led by Nyanza Regional DCI boss James Kipsoi and Regional Police Commander Vincent Makokha.  

 “We are currently concentrating on Nyangeta area to ascertain whether the criminals could have hidden the guns and ammunition in thickets,” Mr Makokha told the Nation on Sunday.

The gang is believed to have taken advantage of heavy rains on the second day of the curfew to break into the armoury.

LOCKED STAFF HOUSES

According to a source who requested anonymity, the gang gained access into the strongroom after the officer who was manning the armoury went to his house briefly.

They locked four staff houses from outside.

Area residents raised the alarm that the criminals could cause mayhem during the curfew period.

Mr Zedekiah Odhiambo, a resident of Kibos Nyangeta, appealed to locals who might have any information on the incident to report to police.

 “We know that the criminals could take advantage of the current curfew and the few police patrols in the villages to terrorise people in their homes,” he said.