How anti-terror police officer lost Ceska pistol 'to boda boda rider'

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A boda boda rider has been charged with robbery and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition after allegedly ambushing an Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) officer and robbing him of his Ceska pistol.

Moses Makau Ndunda is accused of stealing the pistol, serial number KE KP A048578, from ATPU officer Peter Mburu Irungu on August 18.

On the evening of August 17, Irungu was drinking at Eagles Club when friends invited him to join them at Click Pub in the Astrol area along the Eastern Bypass. Already inebriated, Irungu joined them but soon got into an altercation with other patrons, drawing his pistol and declaring himself a police officer. His friends urged him to calm down and leave.

Outside the pub, Irungu met an acquaintance from his village who offered him a lift. Before they left, Irungu brandished his pistol again. Sitting in the backseat, he grew more unruly, at one point climbing out the window and banging on the car roof while proclaiming he was an officer. He eventually fell out of the moving car, sustaining injuries.

After being helped back into the vehicle, Irungu became irate when asked where he wanted to be dropped off. He pointed his pistol at the driver, demanded the keys, and attempted to commandeer the car. When he failed to start it, he noticed a nearby motorbike with two passengers. Brandishing his pistol, he stopped the riders, asked for cigarettes, and smoked.

The driver of the car then seized the chance to drive away, leaving Irungu behind.

Irungu later reported to Kayole Police Station that, while walking home along Gesora Road, two knife-wielding men attacked him, robbing him of his Ceska pistol, ATM card, and police ID. An investigation followed, with a DCI officer at Kayole noting that Irungu had failed to take reasonable precautions to secure the firearm.

A month later, Ndunda was found in possession of the pistol following a tip-off from the public.

Ndunda was brought before Chief Magistrate Tito Gesora at the Makadara Law Courts and was granted a bond of Sh500,000, with the case set for mention on January 20.