An Administration Police officer in Mandera was, on Tuesday, charged with the theft of a firearm belonging to his colleague.
Constable Patrick Karanja had been accused of stealing the gun from his colleague Elvis Karani in a hut they shared.
The gun, an AK-47 of serial number 59014147 had been, reportedly, lost from the hut at Lafey AP camp in Mandera.
Appearing before Mandera senior resident magistrate Peter Areri, Karanja pleaded not guilty to the charge.
He was subsequently remanded at Mandera GK Prison until February 19.
He is facing theft charges of the rifle and two magazines that were valued at Kshs 52,400.
Police had reportedly two other suspects linked with the theft; Muhamed Hussein Hillow and Ahmed Adan Ibrahim.
However, the two were set free on January 18, after spending a few nights behind bars.
Karanja was arrested after he was lured into a trap after being asked to escort a suspect along with other AP officers.
"Less than six APs from Lafey escorted the other suspect and on arrival, they were peacefully disarmed before we arrested Karanja on Monday,” revealed a source.
He allegedly stole the gun and hid it in a police reservist’s house who has since been turned into a state witness.
