Teenager charged with unlawful possession of firearm
An 18-year-old man, who was arrested in Dandora estate, Nairobi while armed with a pistol, has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm contrary to section 4A (2) (a) of the Firearms Act.
Anthony Mwangangi is accused of having a mini Czeska pistol without a firearm certificate on March 19, 2023.
Police officers from Mowlem Police Station were on patrol when they received information from members of the public that a group of men were robbing pedestrians along the railway line in Dandora. The officers rushed to the scene but the suspects sped off on a motorcycle.
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The officers gave chase and Mr Mwangangi, who was a pillion passenger, alighted and jumped into a church compound where he was arrested and pistol recovered from him. The suspect was thereafter taken to Mowlem Police Station where he was detained.
Mr Mwangangi later confessed that he is a member of a gang that has lately been robbing pedestrians in the area.
He told the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives that the gang is led by a man who gives them the gun to use in robberies.
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The accused person told investigators that he was taking the firearm to the gang leader when it fell off his waist and was spotted by members of the public who informed the police.
He claimed to have changed route and started running away along the railway line as the police officers pursued him while shooting in the air before he sought refuge in the church compound.
The suspect however denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Hellen Okwani when he was arraigned. He was released on a bond of Sh500,000. The case will be mentioned on June 12, 2023 before hearing starts on September 12, 2023.