A man was nabbed by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kirinyaga while posing as a police officer, an arrest that led to the recovery of several pieces of government equipment.
According to a police report obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, the man was arrested in Kirinyaga East Sub-County and later led officers to his residence in Thika's Makongeni, where the recoveries were made.
Among the items recovered were two police smoke jackets, two jungle green trousers, a green prison lanyard, desert military boots, and a replica firearm, among other items.
''Detectives in Kirinyaga East Sub-County have apprehended a man posing as a police officer, recovering several government stores in the process. Acting on intelligence reports, detectives arrested the man who, after interrogation, led them to his residence in Thika’s Makongeni area,'' read part of the report.
"A search of his premises yielded a trove of government stores, including two police smoke jackets, two jungle green trousers, a green prison lanyard, desert military boots, and a replica firearm, among other items."
The individual was thereafter taken into custody along with the recovered items. He is currently undergoing processing as detectives prepare for his arraignment in court on Monday.
According to the police report, detectives have since launched further investigations to determine the extent of the impersonation and whether the suspect has been involved in other criminal activities under the guise of law enforcement.
Being found in possession of government-issued items such as uniforms, equipment, or other public property without proper authority is a criminal offence under Kenyan law. Section 324 of the Penal Code provides that anyone found with such items and who fails to give a satisfactory explanation may face up to seven years in prison.
Additionally, the National Police Service Act criminalises the unlawful possession or use of police gear, uniforms, or insignia, with penalties including a fine of up to Ksh1 million or imprisonment for up to 10 years.
In May last year, detectives apprehended a man accused of impersonating a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) captain to evade an 'alcoblow' test at Museum Hill, Nairobi.
The suspect’s arrest also led to the uncovering of a significant cache of military gear and weapons, resulting in the detainment of two additional suspects. The suspect was stopped at a routine police roadblock but refused to comply with officers' instructions.
According to the DCI, the suspect obstructed traffic police by declining to roll down his car windows for the breathalyser test, stepping out of his black Toyota Prado TX, and presenting himself as a KDF captain, pointing to a KDF sticker on his windscreen.
Unable to produce a certificate of appointment or justify his exemption from the test, the suspect called a serving military captain, who distanced himself when the situation escalated.
Verification from the Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed that the man was not a military officer, leading to his immediate arrest and subsequent arraignment at the Milimani Law Courts on traffic-related charges.
