Police Raid Kilimani Office for Auction, Unearth Hidden Military Weapons

Military-grade weapons during a raid at an office in Kilimani on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
Military-grade weapons during a raid at an office in Kilimani on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
Courtesy

Police recovered a small armoury of military-grade weapons during a raid at an office in, Nairobi's Kilimani.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 21, the police indicated that they were enforcing a court order that had directed them to provide security to auctioneers over an unpaid Ksh4 million rent debt settled.

Officers stated that the auctioneers broke into the office to reclaim furniture and other items that would be placed on sale.

Firearms and ammunition were found in a Kilimani office on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
Firearms and ammunition were found in a Kilimani office on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
Courtesy

However, police were shocked when they found an assortment of firearms and ammunition in one of the rooms in the office.

"Police officers who were providing security services vide court order misc app.no E598 of 2022 issued to Ballon Wanjala Nangalama T/A Hebros auctioneers to break in and remove the proclaimed goods belonging to the tenant namely Ken Lugwili of VIC technologies limited and issue notification of sale for purpose of auctioning to recover rent arrears totalling to ksh4,962,990 plus other incidental costs of the attachment.

"The said office was broken into by the auctioneers and in one of the rooms was discovered to be having a standard armoury where the following arms, ammunitions, and assortment of firearm-related items were seized," the police report read.

According to the officers, they found an expired Nairobi city county business permit at the premise and confiscated the firearms into custody.

The police alerted the ATPU and other agencies who moved in to secure the scene as they launched investigations into the armoury.

"The SCPC, and SCCIO were informed. Other specialized units came in. The case was taken over by ATPU with all exhibits. The scene is currently being guarded and will be revisited," police stated.

Reports have intimated that the apartment was rented by a firearms dealer who operates in the country.

Kenyan civilians have acquired 70,000 guns for personal use by June 2018, according to a survey by Geneva-based Small Arms.

The industry was rocked in 2020 after Interior CS Fred Matiang'i suspended the issuing of licences to firearm dealers in the country, in a crackdown on illegal firearm dealers.

Former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i addressing the press at Tot Police Station on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
Former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i addressing the press at Tot Police Station on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
File

His campaign to vet gun owners afresh led to the destruction of 8,628 illegal firearms and 370,000 ammunition. The CS had directed that all private firearm owners register themselves again.

At least 4,000 civilian gun holders were declared armed and dangerous following the expiry of the window.

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