Police officers in Trans Nzoia County have recovered a stolen police firearm following a dramatic operation that led to the arrest of a 22-year-old suspect accused of impersonating a police officer and stealing a loaded rifle from an unsuspecting officer in Kitale.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the incident began on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, when a man dressed in a police raincoat walked into Kitale Police Station claiming he had been newly transferred from Eldoret.
The suspect reportedly interacted freely with officers at the station and asked for assistance in locating accommodation within the police lines, creating the impression that he was a legitimate officer reporting to his new duty station.
Police say the suspect later requested to be shown a nearby hotel where he could get a meal, prompting several officers to accompany him in what appeared to be a routine act of camaraderie.
However, investigators say the man executed a carefully planned deception by convincing one of the officers to help carry his luggage before allegedly stealing the officer’s loaded Steyr rifle containing 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The suspect is said to have quickly escaped aboard a waiting motorcycle, leaving officers shocked by the audacious theft.
The incident triggered an intensive manhunt by security teams, with police relying on intelligence from members of the public to trace the suspect.
Acting on the information received, officers from Sibanga Police Station conducted a targeted operation in Sokomoko Village within Sitatunga Location in Trans Nzoia East Sub-county, where they arrested the suspect identified as Brian Kibet.
During the arrest, officers recovered the stolen Steyr rifle together with the 25 rounds of ammunition.
The suspect is currently in police custody awaiting arraignment.
The DCI has commended members of the public for providing timely information that led to the recovery of the firearm and the arrest of the suspect, saying the incident highlights the importance of cooperation between wananchi and law enforcement agencies in combating crime.
