- By Cate Mukei
Nairobi police are investigating allegations that a licensed gun holder has formed the ritual of firing a single shot in the air outside every entertainment spot he visits every Friday.
Nicknamed the ‘serial shooter’ by The Nairobian in its last edition, the middle-aged man recently caused a stir in the parking lot outside a popular lounge on Ngong Road when he shot in the air and challenged anybody who did not like what he was doing to confront him.
“The man shot in the air then said he was untouchable. Two policemen who came to the scene simply walked away after apparently recognising the individual,” a witness told The Nairobian.
“One of the watchmen said he is an influential person, but he is certainly not a known public figure.”
Our reporter, who also witnessed the incident, said it was strange the police did not take any action despite the clear misuse of a firearm that put the people around him at risk.
The man is said to be an extravagant spender in his drinking sprees and feels the need to show off his ‘shooting expertise’ just for fun whenever he is drunk.
Apart from Ngong Road, sources indicate the mysterious ‘serial shooter’ has also left his mark outside some entertainment establishments in Westlands.
Dagoretti police boss Mathew Guiyo, in whose area the Ngong Road incident is said to have taken place, said he is not aware of a specific complaint on the ‘serial shooter’, even though his officers recently investigated suspected gunshots near the Kawangware bus stop.
He, however, promised to look into the allegations of the misuse of firearms.
Nairobi police boss Benson Kibue said the allegations are serious and sound like a scene from Hollywood, claiming the police have never received a single report of the lone gunman causing panic among residents.
He denied that his officers are scared of arresting or disarming an influential individual causing panic by shooting unnecessarily.
“There is nothing like that. Those are pure lies. We have officers everywhere who could have spotted that person. The matter has not been reported and if the PPO does not know about it then there is a big problem. It is very scary that there may be a lone gunman in town. He could be shooting for fun, but you never know what could happen if provoked,” he said.
According to police sources, getting a licensed firearm is a long process that involves filling in an application form from the Chief Licensing Officer at the Firearms Bureau (located in Nairobi Area station). One then needs fingerprints taken and a certificate of good conduct from the CID.
The applicant is then required to submit the duly filled form to the police station nearest to the applicant’s residence. Each application is then vetted by the District Security Intelligence Committee and the Provincial Security Intelligence Committee before rejection or approval.
The list of those vetted and cleared for consideration to be licensed gun holders is then forwarded to the Inspector General of Police, who has the final say to instruct the Chief Licensing Officer to clear the applicant.
Misuse of a firearm can trigger the withdrawal of the licence or even lead to prosecution.
It remains to be seen if the police will catch up with the ‘serial shooter’.
