Residents of Kitale were left stunned after a 22-year-old man allegedly masqueraded as a police officer and made away with a loaded assault rifle from a police station in a bold daytime incident that has sparked concerns over security procedures within law enforcement facilities.
The suspect, identified as Brian Kibet, was arrested hours later following an intelligence-led manhunt after reportedly stealing a Steyr rifle loaded with 25 bullets from Kenya Police Service officers stationed at the main gate of Kitale Police Station.
According to preliminary reports, Kibet arrived at the station dressed in a police raincoat, convincingly posing as a newly transferred officer from Eldoret.
Officers guarding the station reportedly welcomed him after he introduced himself and engaged them in casual conversation.
In what investigators now describe as a calculated scheme, the suspect allegedly requested one of the officers to assist him in carrying his firearm as they headed out for lunch at a nearby hotel.
The unsuspecting officer reportedly agreed and escorted him away from the station compound.
However, moments later, the situation took a dramatic turn.
As they walked toward the local eatery, Kibet allegedly jumped onto a waiting motorcycle that quickly sped off toward Kitale town, disappearing with the high-powered rifle and ammunition before officers could react.
The incident immediately triggered panic among security agencies, with fears that the stolen weapon could potentially be used in criminal activities if not recovered swiftly.
Detectives launched an intensive operation involving officers from several units, with intelligence reports eventually tracing the suspect to the Sibanga area on the outskirts of Kitale.
Officers from Sibanga Police Station successfully cornered and arrested Kibet before recovering the stolen Steyr rifle together with all 25 rounds of ammunition intact.
Security sources indicated that investigators are now trying to establish whether the suspect acted alone or as part of a larger criminal network targeting police firearms.
The bizarre incident has also raised fresh questions about vetting and identification procedures at police installations, especially at a time when cases of impersonation and organized crime have been on the rise across the country.
The recovered Steyr rifle has since been returned to police custody as the suspect remains detained awaiting arraignment.
Authorities are expected to charge him with offenses including impersonating a police officer, theft of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The case has quickly drawn massive reactions online, with many Kenyans expressing disbelief that a civilian managed to walk into a police station, gain officers’ trust, and escape with a loaded weapon in broad daylight.
Others, however, praised the speed of the police response after the rifle was recovered within hours before any reported harm occurred.
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