A dawn raid by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives in the office and home of Migori Governor Okoth Obado where they confiscated eight firearms, several bank statements, electronics among other things has exposed a dangerous criminal ring operating at the Central Firearms Bureau.
In September 2018 operations at the Central Firearms Bureau were grounded for close to three weeks after it emerged that a criminal syndicate has been assisting applicants to get licenses by manipulating the systems and by-passing available stringent rules.
On discovery of the criminal ring at the bureau , the government sent home all top officers at the bureau and started the process of replacing the management.
The headquarters were also said to have been moved to a new location as part of the governments operations.
Top on the list of those sent home is Nelson Munyi, the secretary of the board, who had only served in the position for six months, having been appointed in February. He was replaced by Charles Mwongera. Also sent home was board member David Kiprono Tonui who was been replaced by Margarete Mosse.
Those in security circles say Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi ordered the bureau shut down after he learnt it had been infiltrated by a cartel that had been issuing fake permits.
Infact, licensed fire arm holders whose permits have expired within the last months were said to have been unable to renew them after the government increased its scrutiny on Nairobi Area Police Station where the bureau is headquartered.
Five of the firearms were recovered in Nairobi while sources within EACC said they recovered another three in Migori. According to a popular media company the claims could not be independently authenticated because the homes were heavily guarded.
8 guns found at both Obado residences.EACC confiscates vital financial documents
— DONALD ODHIAMBO (@BudaTami) November 14, 2018
The detectives pounced at dawn, and spent hours rummaging through documents that could help in their investigations into alleged misappropriation of Sh2 billion in Migori County.
The Firearms Act is silent on the number of pistols a licensed civilian should own, but is specific on the type of firearms to be licensed for.Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said the firearms would be subjected to ballistic examinations and verification of certificates at the Central Firearms Bureau (CFB).
The team of about 60 officers from Nairobi and Kisii, accompanied by heavily armed security personnel, was earlier in the day at the county government offices, where a similar operation was carried out.
The county boss is accused of using proxies, among them his relatives, to siphon Sh2 billion from the coffers of the county government, according to an affidavit filed in court by the anti-corruption watchdog.