Friday, March 29, 2024

Ken Lugwili arrested for illegally having firearms at work office

Ken Lugwili, a tenant apprehended by Kilimani police in possession of firearms at his office, Vic. Technologies Limited, has been arrested and taken for questioning by the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU). On Tuesday, the building auctioneers based in Kilimani broke into his office following defaulted payments accruing to Kshs. 4.9 Million. The office is along Wood Avenue in Kilimani area, Nairobi.

The auctioneers had with them a team of police officers to provide security following a court order to break into the office premises and evict the goods belonging to the tenant. They are supposed to put up the office for sale to help recover the amount Lugwili owed.

Upon breaking in they made a discovery that has raised eyebrows. They came across a standard armory for keeping guns and bullets. 22 assorted guns and 565 bullets collectively were recovered from the office.

The Kilimani police officers handed the case over to the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU), which took over on Tuesday night.

The following statement was recorded by the Kilimani Police in their Occurrence Book Ref No: 32/21/06/22 at 6:15 pm;

SUBJECT: RECOVERY OF FIREARMS/ AMMUNITION/ FIREARM COMPONENTS INCIDENT REPORT

  1. 9- Escort Magnum short guns
  2. 1-Benelli short gun
  3. 5-Guatro short gun
  4. 1-Savageshort gun.
  5. 6 pistols: Walter with 2 Magazines
  6. Sarsilmaz with 2 Magazines
  7. Revolver
  8. Smith with 2 Magazines
  9. Ceska with one empty magazine(pistol)
  10. A total of 565 ammunition of assorted different calibers
  11. 72 Medium and 45 small tins of pointed head pellets
  12. 2 tins of Eley wasp
  13. 25 Pistol Holster
  14. 9 Double Magazine carriers
  15. 6 Single Magazine carriers
  16. 30 Slings
  17. 5 Sniper ultimate
  18. 10 Sniper torches
  19. Certificate of registration as a firearm dealer (Formio)
  20. Expired Nairobi city county Business Permit No. 1476629
  21. 2 Firearm movement register and assorted firearm manuals
  22. 3 Frames of firearm display
  23. 9 Firearm handles
  24. 12 Studs
  25. 7 Spacers
  26. 15 Flash aiders
  27. 7 Firearm spanners
  28. 2 Firearm cleaning brushes

Ken Lugwili firearms

Kilimani police head of DCI, Stephen Tanki said the police took into custody all of the firearm items in the Vic. Technologies Limited Office pending relevant investigations with the office tenant, Ken Lugwili.

“It seems he was a firearms dealer but it was dangerous for him to leave this issue to reach this stage with such weapons therein yet all indications are the license had expired.”

Stephen Tanki stated.

Ken Lugwili’s license to handle and sell firearms expired 5 years ago in 2018. The police said they will hold a questioning talk with Lugwili over the matter wanting to find out what all his firearms were doing in his office.

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Lugwili had been ignorant of the fact that his license had expired despite telling the police that he did not know that his license had expired. He promised to cooperate with the police.

“I am a licensed gun dealer but I didn’t realize the license had expired,”

He claimed.

Police revisited the scene on Wednesday as investigations soldier on based on their discovery and also to help the auctioneer recover Kshs. 4.9 Million.

Interior Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang’i in December 2018 passed an announcement that all civilians with access to firearms as well as dealers are supposed to undergo mandatory vetting each year to ensure that they are compliant.

The vetting process involves psychiatric assessment by a government psychologist, a criminal records check and ballistic testing of the weapons and ammunition by the DCI.

This was necessary as he explained to address the procedural improprieties in the issuance and licensing of firearms with a lot of fake firearm registration certificates in circulation.

“The reason His Excellency the President ordered this to be done and why the National Security Advisory Committee and other security agencies have been keen to ensure that this exercise is completed is because we want to deal with the various aspects related to crime in the country,”

Said Matiang’i.

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