Police in Migori County have recovered a pistol that was reported stolen from a police officer, after it was found abandoned inside a toilet at a bar in Kehancha.
The Duma model pistol, loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, was discovered on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 12, 2025. It had been carefully placed in the corner of a toilet cubicle and wrapped inside a shopping bag.
According to police reports, the firearm had gone missing two days earlier from the same bar where it was later recovered. The incident occurred on the night of Sunday, August 10, when the officer carrying the weapon was in the establishment.
The pistol was found by a cleaner who, upon noticing the suspicious package, alerted authorities immediately. Police responded to the scene, secured the weapon, and launched investigations to determine who had stolen it and how it ended up in the toilet.
While no direct suspect has been identified or arrested, the incident prompted immediate police action. Authorities arrested and detained a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer stationed in Kuria, along with a woman who had been with him at the time of the theft.
Reports indicate that the officer had visited the bar in the company of the female reveller on the night of the incident. At some point during the evening, he realised that his service pistol, which was loaded with 15 bullets, was missing.
The pair was taken into custody and interrogated as part of the investigation. However, after questioning, both were released as detectives determined there was insufficient evidence to charge them at this stage.
The recovery of the firearm has eased immediate concerns about the weapon potentially being used in criminal activities, but police emphasised that investigations are ongoing. Authorities are pursuing leads to establish whether the theft was opportunistic or premeditated, and if any other individuals were involved in concealing the weapon.
Security experts note that the loss and recovery of police-issued firearms raise questions about adherence to operational protocols and the circumstances under which officers carry weapons in social settings. Police have not ruled out disciplinary action against the officer involved, pending the outcome of the inquiry.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in controlling the movement of firearms in Kenya, especially when weapons fall temporarily into unauthorised hands.
