Four Nairobi and Turkana based senior officers arrested over links to illegal arms syndicate supplied to criminals

Detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI’s) special squad, the Operations Support Unit (OSU) have arrested four Nairobi and Turkana based police officers suspected to be involved in illegal arms syndicate supplied to criminals.

The four officers include Turkana based Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Ekidor Lotira Charles, Corporal Isaac Kipngetich attached to Turkana County police headquarters, Police Constable Ileli Cyrus Kisamwa, an armorer attached to the Central Firearms Stores in Industrial Area and Constable Samson Muriithi Mutongu, a storeman also based in Industrial Area.

According to the Director of DCI Mohamed Amin’s office, the four have been “under investigation for some time due to their suspected involvement in the illegal trade of firearms and ammunition,” An update by the DCI reads in part.

“Their arrest follows days of detailed profiling, surveillance, and forensic investigations by the OSU team,” The DCI added.

Amin’s office said that the breakthrough came when Corporal Kipngetich was caught pants down after receiving a consignment of 1,000 rounds of ammunition from Constables Ileli and Mutongu, which was intended for ASP Ekidor Lotira.

Acting on additional intelligence, detectives later arrested Constable Mutongu, who was found in possession of 19 assorted firearm magazines, firing pins, cleaning kits, and three spent 9mm cartridges.

Constable Ileli was also arrested while in possession of a Remington Rand Model 1911 pistol and two Ceska pistol firing pins.

All four suspects have been processed for arraignment on Monday, September 29, 2025.

They are suspected of being behind an illegal arms and ammunition trade that has contributed to insecurity and violence in various parts of the country.

The National Police Service has vowed to pursue anyone who betrays public trust by fueling violence through the illegal arms trade.