A suspected impersonation incident at Kitale Police Station ended with the recovery of a stolen police firearm after officers from Sibanga Police Station tracked down and arrested a suspect linked to the theft.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the incident occurred on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, when a man dressed in a police raincoat allegedly walked into Kitale Police Station posing as a newly posted officer from Eldoret.
“He presented himself confidently as a colleague who had just been posted and needed assistance to settle in,” the DCI said.
According to investigators, the suspect engaged officers on duty in casual conversation before requesting help in finding accommodation within the police line.
His conduct reportedly raised no immediate suspicion, allowing him to blend in with officers at the station.
He later asked to be directed to a nearby hotel for food, prompting officers to accompany him.
During the walk, the suspect allegedly convinced one officer to carry his belongings, creating an opportunity for the theft.
“It was during this interaction that the suspect allegedly managed to steal a loaded Steyr rifle containing 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition,” the DCI stated.
The suspect then fled on a waiting motorcycle, leaving officers behind in confusion after realizing the firearm had been taken.
A coordinated search operation was immediately launched, with security teams spreading out across Trans Nzoia County as investigations intensified.
Members of the public also provided critical leads that helped narrow down the suspect’s location.
“We received credible intelligence from members of the public, which significantly assisted in tracking down the suspect,” the DCI added.
Acting on the information, officers from Sibanga Police Station conducted a targeted operation in Sokomoko Village, Sitatunga Location in Trans Nzoia East Sub-county, where they arrested 22-year-old Brian Kibet.
A search on him led to the recovery of the stolen Steyr rifle, still loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition.
The suspect is currently in custody undergoing processing ahead of arraignment, as detectives continue to investigate whether he acted alone or had accomplices.