At least
four guns were recovered in separate police operations that saw 16 suspects
arrested.
In the first incident, detectives from Nakuru Central Police Station have
successfully dismantled a suspected gang of violent robbery suspects who have been
striking terror in the hearts of innocent residents of Eveready area in Nakuru
and recovered a Ceska pistol.
Acting on vital tips from vigilant locals, the detectives executed a swift raid at the suspects' house in Soilo area in Nakuru West Subcounty.
Their
meticulous search bore fruit, uncovering a Ceska pistol (serial no. 75P07) with
a loaded magazine of 12 rounds.
In the house, seven suspects were arrested and
taken into lawful custody for processing pending arraignment.
Elsewhere in Molo two robbery with violence
suspects were arrested in an investigation that is ongoing.
The
suspects led police to a house in Milimani area where they managed to recover a
black pistol wrapped in a green paper bag and hidden in the corner of the
perimeter fence.
The make
and serial number were not visible and police said the firearm is suspected to have
been used in commission of the robberies within Molo town.
And
police in Samburu’s Baragoi area recovered two rifles with 14 bullets from
suspected bandits.
This was
after a gang of bandits had raided villages and stole 20 goats in Kilesua area.
A multi-agency security team managed to recover the animals and arrested five
suspects.
Two AK47
rifles with 14 bullets were recovered from the suspects, police said.
The area is among those experiencing cases of cattle rustling despite operations to address the same.
The government says they have deployed several strategies to address the menace.
The area is among those under police
operation to recover illegal weapons in the hands of civilians.
The operation involved multi-agency teams covering various counties.
The Operation Komesha Uhalifu North Rift targets Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Meru and Isiolo counties.
Besides retributive reaction, strategic investment and
sustainable development have also taken a prominent place among the
government’s planned crime control interventions for Kenya’s Northern frontier
and the Kerio Valley belt.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the long-term vision is to empower the communities to actively take part in the
war against animal rustling and undertake legitimate nation-building
activities.
He said he plans to distribute subsidised
agricultural inputs and extension services to area residents in a bid to revive
farming activities as a source of livelihood.
“We are coming to dismantle not only the
criminals themselves but also to bring down the entire chain that has been the
cattle and livestock rustling industry,” he said.