Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Four Nairobi residents who were arrested with a toy gun and a knife in their car in the CBD have been released after the court closed the case against them.

Gin Ammitou Abwao, Collins Karani Ireri, Brian Mwaniki Njue, and Jemimah Kagendo Gichovi were discharged on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, by a Milimani magistrate following a decision by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) not to proceed with charges.

The case was withdrawn after police confirmed that the white revolver recovered during the arrest was an imitation firearm.

Investigators had submitted the item for analysis at police headquarters, and the results received on Tuesday, June 10, indicated it was a toy.

The magistrate’s ruling followed an application by the investigating officer, who informed the court that the file had been forwarded to the ODPP for further direction and that there was no need to continue holding the suspects.

"Considering the application from the investigating officer and the prosecution's views. It has been determined that the investigation is complete, and the file has been sent to the ODPP for further instructions.

As the purpose of this miscellaneous file has been served, the court will grant the request to close it. Therefore, the file is hereby closed, and the suspects are discharged pending further directives from the ODPP," concluded the magistrate.

The four had been arrested on the night of June 5, 2025, during a police patrol near the Shell Petrol Station on Kenyatta Avenue.

Officers from Central Police Station became suspicious of a red Audi A1, registration number KDL 290B, which was parked at the location with four occupants inside.

Upon searching the vehicle, officers recovered several smartphones, including two Samsung S23 Ultra devices, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and others, alongside the toy revolver, a CCCP-branded AK-47 knife, and six rubber bullets.

The unusual collection raised fears of a possible criminal plot, prompting the arrests and the opening of a miscellaneous criminal file.

Police initially sought to detain the suspects for 14 days to allow time for further investigation, including forensic analysis of the phones and ballistic testing of the items.

They also believed the suspects could be linked to a broader criminal network, possibly involving illegal weapons stashed in Nairobi and Kiambu.

However, the court only granted five days of detention, noting that investigations could continue without holding the suspects.

The ruling took into account submissions by defence lawyers, who argued that the accused were not flight risks and had cooperated with police.

In a separate report, former prisons officer Jackson Kuria Kimani, popularly known as Cop Shakur, was arrested in Naivasha on March 22, 2025, after police reportedly found a toy gun in his possession.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sought more time to assess whether the toy could legally be considered a firearm. A court granted them a 24-hour extension.

However, Shakur’s lawyer, Monica Mwai, objected to the delay, arguing that his continued detention violated his rights.

Source: TUKO.co.ke