Police are currently investigating the ownership of a pistol discovered abandoned in the men’s toilet of a popular restaurant in the Kilimani area of Nairobi.
The incident occurred when a patron, believed to be a licensed firearm holder, visited CJ’s Restaurant at Ola Petrol Station along Argwings Kodhek Road in Yaya Centre. After a visit to the restroom, the individual inadvertently left behind a Steyr C9-A2 MF pistol loaded with 16 bullets, which was found resting on the cistern.
The weapon was uncovered a few minutes after the owner had left the restroom and the restaurant. The discovery caused panic among witnesses, who promptly alerted the police. Restaurant management contacted the authorities, who arrived at the scene and took custody of the firearm.
Nairobi Police Chief Adamson Bungei has stated that an investigation is underway to determine the owner of the pistol and to carry out necessary inquiries.
This incident raised concerns about the potential for the firearm to fall into the wrong hands, highlighting the importance of safekeeping for civilian firearm owners. Regulations stipulate that firearms must remain in the owner’s sight or be stored securely in their residences at all times.
Civilian firearm owners undergo a vetting process before receiving permits to possess firearms. There are approximately 15,000 civilian firearm holders in the country, with some losing their permits due to misuse. The law mandates annual license renewal for civilian firearm holders.
The vetting process involves a psychiatric assessment conducted by a government psychologist, criminal record checks, and ballistic testing of the weapons and ammunition by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. To improve oversight, the government announced plans to establish a centralized electronic register of all private citizens holding firearms in December 2018, following an increase in cases of fake certificates.
