A pistol belonging to Bungoma Central Sub-County police commander Mr David Kandie was stolen from his house by a gang on Tuesday.
The firearm; a Jericho model, had 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The residence, located a paltry 200 meters from the area's Chwele police station, was broken into by the robbers at 3.30 am, shortly after the police chief had retired to bed.
In addition to the pistol, the thugs made away with Ksh 3,500 in cash, three mobile phones and goods worth Ksh 44,350.
One of Mr. Kandie's children woke him up an hour later informing him that the main door to the house was wide open.
A manhunt to locate the thieves is already underway.
"We have begun a thorough search to recover the gun," Western region commissioner Ms Anne Ngetich stated.
Bungoma County forms part of the formerly known Western province where cases of capital crimes have increased tremendously in the recent past.
Killings have been witnessed in various parts in the most brutal ways and tension has not yet subsided following the most recent onslaught at Matungu village in Kakamega County.
Detectives had earlier on arrested three suspects on Tuesday with links to the killing of six watchmen in the neighboring Vihiga county in March this year.
