A firearm recovered from a suspected robber killed during a police operation in Joska, Machakos County, has been traced to Court of Appeal Judge Justice Aggrey Muchelule, opening a new line of investigation into how the weapon ended up in criminal hands.
Investigators say the Beretta pistol, bearing serial number H20930Y, was recovered after detectives engaged a robbery suspect in a fatal exchange of gunfire during an operation carried out on July 13.
Police later contacted the judge, who reported that he had not realised the firearm was missing from his Kitusuru residence until they informed him of its recovery.
In a statement recorded at Spring Valley Police Station on July 14, Justice Muchelule explained that he rarely carried the pistol.
“He further stated that the last time he physically checked it was in October 2025, when he intended to renew his firearm licence. However, he later forgot to complete the renewal process,” the police report states.
Detectives believe the weapon was used during the July 4 robbery at Chaiiwali Café along General Mathenge Road in Westlands, where armed men raided the restaurant and stole electronic devices from customers before fleeing.
The incident, which was captured by security cameras, drew widespread public attention and prompted an intensive investigation.
The firearm was recovered during an operation targeting Vincent Ochieng, whom police describe as a member of a criminal gang believed to have operated across Nairobi, Kiambu and Machakos counties.
According to investigators, Ochieng was shot dead after allegedly opening fire on officers who had surrounded his hideout in Joska.
Police also recovered extra ammunition and several mobile phones from the scene.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations later established that the pistol was registered to Justice Muchelule and have since launched investigations to determine how it left his possession.
“Yes, this weapon was identified as the one used in the July 4, 2026, robbery of the Chaiiwali Café in Westlands,” a detective involved in the investigation said.
Authorities are now conducting ballistic examinations to determine whether the firearm was used in any other crimes.
At the same time, detectives are pursuing other suspects believed to have escaped following the Joska operation.
The investigation remains active as police seek to establish the full chain of events surrounding the missing firearm while intensifying efforts to dismantle armed criminal networks operating in different parts of the country.
