A 50-year-old woman is recovering in a Nairobi hospital after being accidentally shot in the leg by her husband’s firearm in a bizarre incident at their home. The woman, married to a licensed firearm holder, sustained serious injuries after a loaded pistol went off while she was helping carry bags into their house at Riara Apartments off Ngong Road.
According to police reports, the incident occurred on Sunday morning. The businessman had just arrived home and asked his wife to assist him with three bags, one of which contained a loaded Beretta pistol. Unaware of the firearm’s presence, the woman picked up the bags and placed them on the ground in the parking area. Moments later, a gunshot rang out.
Authorities believe the pistol discharged after the bag was put down with force, striking a wall and ricocheting into the woman’s right leg. The husband, alarmed by the sudden sound, rushed to the scene and found his wife bleeding. He immediately took her to a nearby hospital, where she remains in stable condition.
Investigators discovered that the firearm’s safety catch had not been engaged, a likely factor in the accidental discharge. The bag was also torn during the incident, further indicating the force of the impact. Police have since seized the pistol as part of their ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Mombasa’s Nyali area, another licensed firearm holder reported the mysterious disappearance of his Glock pistol. The businessman told police he had stored the gun, along with two fully loaded magazines, in a safe on May 13 but discovered it missing on June 2 as he prepared for a trip to Samburu. He admitted to not checking the safe since securing the weapon.
Both incidents have raised fresh concerns over firearm safety and storage practices among licensed gun holders in Kenya. The country has more than 15,000 registered firearm owners, all of whom undergo a stringent vetting process before receiving licenses. However, these recent events underscore the importance of responsible gun handling and proper storage to prevent similar accidents or potential misuse.
