A dramatic scene unfolded at the Karen police station in Nairobi when a known gun dealer managed to escape shortly after his arrest for operating without a permit.
The suspect was apprehended at a restaurant in Karen on Thursday afternoon, August 1, following the discovery of a stockpile of weapons and ammunition in his car and home. During a search of his Mark X vehicle, police recovered an assortment of firearms, including a Sig Sauer pistol and two Canik pistols, along with six empty magazines and 775 assorted bullets.
After the arrest, police took the suspect to his residence at Southlands Estate, where they found a shotgun and 210 additional bullets. Although he presented a civilian firearm certificate, it was discovered to have expired on February 21, 2023, prompting authorities to take him into custody.
As he was being escorted to the cells, the suspect requested to retrieve a heavy sweater from his car, parked just a few meters from the report office. Claiming he was unwell, he was not handcuffed at the time. However, once he got into the car, he locked the doors, and as officers shouted for him to exit, he sped away.
In his haste, he crashed into the gate as he fled, injuring a constable stationed at the entrance. Remarkably, no shots were fired during the incident. The police have since circulated details of the suspect’s vehicle and initiated a manhunt, having been alerted to the expiration of his firearm permit.
Currently, there are over 11,000 licensed firearm holders in the country, with permits requiring annual renewal.
