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 subsidized 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.
