A firearm that was allegedly stolen from the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Vihiga, when he was attacked while on patrol on December 21, 2023, has been recovered in Mwiki, Kasarani Sub-County.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said that the Vihiga police boss was on patrol when he was attacked by a gang and his firearm with 15 bullets stolen.
“After days of surveillance, detectives from DCI Operations Directorate swiftly responded to an intelligence report received through the Fichua kwa DCI hotline by an anonymous caller,” the statement read in part.
The anonymous caller reported to have spotted a suspicious car occupied by three armed men in Mwiki.
“Officers approached the scene and realised it was the same suspects who had evaded several police dragnets after staging some attacks around the capital,” the DCI report said.
When ordered by the police to surrender, two of the suspects ran away while the third suspect allegedly pulled out a firearm to confront the detectives.
He was shot down during the confrontation, while his accomplices fled to a crowded shopping centre where they are believed to be hiding.
A KBZ 985T Nissan Note which the suspects were using was impounded alongside other exhibits that were found stashed in it.
According to the report, the OCS was on patrol in Vihiga using his private car when he was attacked and stabbed.
He was stabbed in the head and shoulder as he struggled with the attackers and left with an injury during the incident outside Maragoli Plaza, police said.
The police commander said the attackers who seemed to have marked his movements escaped with his Jericho pistol with 15 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, two mobile phones, car keys and other personal items.
Detectives handling the incident said they suspect he was targeted by people who knew him.
He was rescued and taken to Mungoma Private Hospital for medical attention and later transferred to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu.