A sting operation at Museum Hill, Nairobi, has led to the arrest of a suspect and recovery of three grenades, a firearm, rounds of ammunition, a sniper ghillie suit, and other military gear. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) shared the details of the bust on their social media pages, revealing the arrest of Koffi Bill Atinda alias Don, who had impersonated a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) captain to evade an alcoblow test.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday, May 15th, when Atinda, who was driving a black Toyota Prado TX with registration number KDL 100G obstructed traffic police by refusing to comply with a routine alcoblow test. He instead stepped out of the vehicle and falsely identified himself as a KDF captain, displaying a KDF sticker on his car windscreen. He was however unable to produce a formal military ID or provide a valid reason for special treatment, and his claims were debunked following a verification call to the Department of Defense (DoD), leading to his immediate arrest.
After being arraigned at Milimani Law Courts for traffic offenses and released, anti-robbery police ambushed him at Nairobi Area Traffic Headquarters, where he had gone to collect his detained vehicle together with his alleged driver, Kennedy Otieno Omwanda. A brief interrogation revealed more incriminating evidence, leading to Omwanda’s arrest.
A search of Atinda’s vehicle yielded 15 fake USD notes in $100 denominations, a police pocket phone, a vehicle-fitted siren, expired Ugandan car insurance, seven SIM card holders, and two company stamps. Further searches at Atinda’s residence on Hilltop Road in Ngong saw the police discover military camouflage fatigues and additional company documents. Social media posts also depicted Atinda holding firearms, which are yet to be recovered.
The interrogation of Omwanda exposed a third suspect, Kennedy Otieno Odhiambo. A raid on Odhiambo’s residence at Jimly Apartment in Jamhuri Estate saw the recovery of three hand grenades, a Sauer P229 pistol, 12 rounds of ammunition, and a firearm certificate pending authentication. Odhiambo claimed the grenades were given to him by a Kenya Prisons officer from Ruiru Prison Headquarters for safekeeping, prompting further investigations to verify the officer’s identity and connection to the case.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers say investigations are ongoing to recover a long-barreled rifle reportedly seen with Atinda and to apprehend more suspects linked to this suspected criminal ring.
