Turkana police officer arrested with 1,007 rounds of ammunition in Nairobi detained

A police officer attached to Turkana County has been detained until Monday to allow him time to secure legal representation after he was arraigned in court over the possession of more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Corporal Isaac Kipngetich was arrested on Wednesday along Uhuru Highway at the Kenyatta Avenue roundabout after officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Operations Support Unit intercepted his Toyota Passo.

According to the investigating officers, they had received intelligence reports that the vehicle was ferrying illegal ammunition.

Upon searching it, they discovered a sealed carton concealed in a black backpack containing 1,007 rounds of 5.56mm calibre ammunition.

Court documents seen by Citizen Digital showed that Kipngetich, an armourer based at Turkana County Police Headquarters, was on annual leave from September 23 to November 11, 2025, and had no authority to be in possession of the ammunition.

Prosecutors argue that the recovered bullets were suspected to be in transit for use in criminal activities such as banditry, murder, and livestock raids in Turkana and neighbouring counties, which continue to face severe security challenges.

The prosecution further argued that investigators need more time to recover crucial documents linked to the supply and receipt of the ammunition, record statements from witnesses, subject the seized rounds to ballistic and forensic analysis, analyse the suspect’s mobile phones, and pursue additional exhibits and arrests in Turkana County.

Investigators maintained that releasing the suspect at this stage would compromise witness safety and jeopardise ongoing security operations targeting criminal networks in the North Rift.

The court directed that Kipngetich remain in custody until Monday, September 29, when the matter will be mentioned again.