At least 16 suspects were Thursday arrested in an operation launched in Ndori after a senior police officer was stoned to death during a crackdown on suspected illicit brew in Siaya.
Police said the suspects led a team to a site where they had hidden a Ceska pistol that they robbed from the slain officer.
The weapon had an empty magazine when it was recovered about six kilometers away from the scene of the murder of the officer, police said.
Also recovered was a handcuff the suspects had robbed inspector Simon Mwangi Kariuki of Ndori crime office after they killed him.
The suspects were rounded up in an overnight operation in the area that was triggered following the killing of Kariuki.
Nyanza regional police commander Patrick Tito said they are hunting for more suspects in the incident. He termed mob lynching criminal.
Kariuki was attacked by villagers together with another officer during a crackdown on suspected illicit alcohol in Siaya.
The incident happened on March 13 evening.
Kariuki who has been in charge of the crime branch and his colleague booked possession of illicit brew.
This is part of an ongoing operation against suspected illicit brew and drugs.
The officers arrested a suspect with 21 sachets of the said brew and four packets of cigarettes that they said were for export.
In the process, the suspect raised an alarm alerting the residents who raced to the suspect's rescue by stoning the two officers.
They also used crude weapons to attack the officers killing Kariuki on the spot as his colleague escaped for his life but with injuries.
Kariuki fired five bullets into the air to scare the mob in vain.
The mob attacked and killed him before snatching his pistol and vanished from the scene, police said. The weapon was recovered eight hours later.
Police said the suspect who had been arrested was detained and is assisting in the probe and hunt for the attackers.
The body was moved to Lwak Mission Hospital mortuary pending autopsy and other procedures.
The government has announced several measures to address the menace of alcoholism and abuse of drugs.
The Cabinet Wednesday endorsed measures the government has taken in the fight against illegal brews and narcotic drugs.
These measures, announced by the Interior Ministry, include a 21-day suspension of all 52 licenses and permits issued to manufacturers and distillers of second-generation alcohol, revocation of all bar licenses issued by counties against the law, and an audit of conflict of interest within the ranks of enforcement agencies.
Other measures are nationwide crackdowns on the sale, transportation, distribution, and consumption of illicit brews and narcotic drugs.
The meeting resolved that any public officials who resist these measures in the fight against illicit brews and drugs will be violating Chapter Six of the Constitution and the laws on conflict of interest.
These include officials in the National Police Service, National Administration, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, public health, and public prosecution, among others.