A Kibera court has allowed an application to have two police officers detained for five days pending further probe into allegations of selling firearms and ammunition to members of the public in Laikipia County.
Kibera senior principal Samson Temu said officers Joel Githaiga and Martin Murimi will be detained at Muthaiga and Kilimani stations until April 25.
Their detainment was allowed after the prosecution said they needed more time to finalize their probe against the two.
They are being probed in a case of having firearms/ammunition contrary to the law.
In an affidavit, investigating officer Nicholas Njoroge attached at DCI Headquarters states the two were arrested on April 19 at Nyahururu town in Laikipia county on suspicion of being in possession of firearm/ammunition.
The duo are serving officers attached to ASTU C Company.
“The suspects were arrested, escorted to DCI headquarters and upon interrogation, it was preliminarily established that they have been selling ammunition to members of the public within Laikipia county and its adjacent areas to commit criminal activities,” read the affidavit.
The investigating officer says the ammunitions sold are believed to have been used to commit crimes such as banditry within Laikipia County and other adjacent counties where innocent lives have been lost, people displaced and livestock stolen.
The court heard that the other suppliers and buyers of the ammunition are still at large and there is a need to hold the suspects, conduct further investigations and make more arrests.
The IO said they needed time to recover crucial documents regarding the supply and receipt of ammunition from the involved government security agencies, and record statements from witnesses whom the officers are likely to interfere with.
The investigators said they also needed to subject the recovered ammunition to ballistic for forensic analysis and ascertain whether the suspects were licensed firearm holders from the firearm licensing board.