Standard 8 pupil found with arms and police uniforms in Kisumu held

Police display some of the items recovered from a teenager’s house in Kisumu during a crackdown at the weekend. [Photo: COLLINS ODUOR/STANDARD]

KISUMU: Police have arrested a teenager who was found with a pistol, 20 rounds of ammunition, bhang, police uniforms.

The 16-year-old pupil, who claims to be a Standard Eight pupil, is expected to be arraigned in court today.

Police also recovered four arrows and other assorted weapons during a swoop on Saturday.

The suspect was said to have been with his accomplice, who escaped during the day-long swoop.

Another suspect linked to the gang was not netted as neighbours said he had travelled.

The officers have been conducting crackdowns to curb insecurity, sale of hard drugs and illegal brews in the area. A contingent of officers from the Quick Response Team and the regular police were called in for backup and they raided the home of the suspects at Sewage Estate in Manyatta.

The pupil was said to have been selling rolls of bhang together with another suspect when the officers cornered them.

Neighbours said the ‘missing’ suspect is always on the move and they could not establish where he travels to and what he does.

Robbery cases

“We do not know where he is. There have been incidents of robbery in the neighbourhood but we cannot confirm whether he was involved,” said a neighbour who only identified herself as Mercy.

Area OCPD Christopher Mshimba said the officers were cracking down on illegal brewers when the suspects were found with the bhang.

He said police then escorted the suspects to their residence where the officers did a search and found the weapons.

“We have since discovered that the owner of the gun was away and we are pursuing him. We cannot ascertain whether he legally owns the gun or not, but we are looking for him. But even if he owns the gun legally, it is illegal to leave it unattended. The owner ought to have it with him every time,” said the officer.

Mshimba, who could not confirm whether the suspect was a pupil, said he was expected to appear in court for the charges related to dealing in illegal drugs, while the suspects linked to the gun but whose name was not revealed will be charged separately.

Mshimba asked area residents to work with police in identifying criminals to curb incidents of insecurity.