Rifles, bullets found hidden at city golf club

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: A worker was shocked when he discovered three AK 47 rifles and more than 80 bullets hidden in a bush near a popular golf club in Nairobi’s Karen area.

The rifles with 87 bullets were discovered on Tuesday evening by a worker at the golf club hidden in the bush and covered with clothes and a bag.

Police say they are yet to identify the owners of the luggage who they believe hid them there after using them in an unknown incident.

Langata head of CID James Manuni said the weapons were found near the Karen Golf and Country Club.  He said they are yet to identify the owners of the illegal weapons.

“We have sent the weapons for ballistic tests and hope to know where they were used,” said Manuni.

He said two of the rifles had their magazines loaded with 30 bullets each while one had 27 - an indication that the gunmen had spent three.

Manuni said the worker was slashing grass when they discovered the weapons. It is believed the guns had been used in a series of robberies in the city but police say they are still investigating.

Authorities say there are between 550,000 to 680,000 small arms and light weapons in the hands of criminals in the country. Director of the Kenya Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons Engineer Patrick Ochieng says these guns account for between 70 and 90 per cent of crimes committed in Kenya.

He urged the government to take the matter seriously as security is a key incentive in fast-tracking national development and attainment of peace.

“Security is a key incentive for attracting investment both from within and outside the country and the earlier we tackle insecurity in the country the better for our economic growth,” said Ochieng at a meeting of senior security officials in Nairobi.

He appealed to the government to urgently approve the national policy on small arms developed in 2008 thar  has not been approved to date.

Meanwhile, a guard was shot and seriously wounded in an attack by suspected thugs at Nairobi’s Kingstone slum, in Mukuru.

Makadara OCPD Thomas Atuti said the gang approached the guard at a kiosk where he was drinking tea on Tuesday evening and shot him in the hand once before escaping.

He added they are yet to know the motive of the shooting and that investigations have been launched into the incident.