Arrest illustrationDetectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Operations Support Unit (OSU) have arrested four law enforcement officers linked to a suspected illegal arms and ammunition network believed to be fuelling insecurity in parts of the country.
According to the DCI, the arrests followed days of detailed profiling, surveillance and forensic investigations targeting the suspected syndicate.
The officers — drawn from the prison service, the National Police Service in Turkana County, and the Central Firearms Stores in Nairobi’s Industrial Area — were picked up in separate sting operations between Friday and Saturday.
"The four officers: Assistant Superintendent of Prisons based in Turkana, a Corporal attached to Turkana County Police Headquarters, an armorer at the Central Firearms Stores in Industrial Area, and a Constable (storeman also based in Industrial Area) have been under investigation for some time due to their suspected involvement in the illegal trade of firearms and ammunition," the detectives said in a statement on Saturday.
Investigators believe the group had been diverting government ammunition and firearm components for sale to criminal networks.
In one operation, an officer was caught after allegedly receiving a consignment of 1,000 rounds of ammunition from two colleagues.
The rounds were reportedly destined for another senior officer.
Acting on additional intelligence, detectives later seized one suspect with 19 assorted firearm magazines, firing pins, cleaning kits, and three spent 9mm cartridges.
Another officer was arrested while in possession of a Remington Rand Model 1911 pistol and two Ceska pistol firing pins.
All four have since been processed and will be arraigned in court on Monday, 29 September 2025.
The National Police Service vowed to pursue “anyone who betrays public trust by fuelling violence through the illegal arms trade,” warning that uniforms will not shield offenders from prosecution.
The statement comes a day after a Nairobi court directed that one of the suspects believed to possess more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition remain in custody at the Capitol Hill Police Station until Monday, September 29, 2025.
The officer, an armourer attached to the Turkana County Police Headquarters, was arrested on Thursday at the Kenyatta Avenue roundabout along Uhuru Highway in Nairobi.
