There was drama at the Karen police station, Nairobi when a known gun dealer escaped minutes after his arrest for operating without a permit.
He escaped as police were booking him following the discovery of a cache of arms and bullets in his house and car.
Police said they arrested him at a restaurant in Karen on Thursday, August 1 afternoon.
A search was conducted in his Mark X car and an assortment of pistols and bullets recovered.
The weapons included a Sig Sauer pistol and two Canik pistols. The police also found six empty magazines and 775 assorted bullets.
Later, the suspect was escorted to his residence at Southlands Estate, and upon search a short gun with 210 bullets was recovered from the house.
Police said the suspect produced a civilian firearm certificate but it showed it expired on February 21, 2023.
It was then a decision was made to take him into custody.
As he was being escorted to the cells, he requested to pick up a heavy sweater from his car, which was parked a few meters from the report office.
He claimed he was unwell and needed the sweater. He was not handcuffed then.
Police said after he got into the car, he locked himself there as the officers who were escorting him started to shout ordering him to get out.
The station guard rushed to the gate and closed it as he shouted for help to stop the suspect fearing he could cause more harm.
Police said the suspect drove at high speed from the parking lot, hit the gate, and opened it wide open.
He sped off to an unknown location injuring a constable of police who was at the gate.
No bullets were fired as the drama unfolded. Details of the car were circulated after the 4 pm drama but no arrest was made.
A major hunt is ongoing on him. Police said they had been alerted the man’s permit had expired.
There are more than 11,000 licensed firearm holders in the country.
The permits are renewed annually.
