Ex-KDF Special Forces Officer Arrested in Nairobi as DCI Uncovers Military Gear and Ammunition
A former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) special forces officer has been arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over alleged involvement in criminal activities within Nairobi’s Eastlands area.
The suspect was apprehended during a targeted operation conducted by detectives from the Operations Support Unit (OSU) after authorities received intelligence from members of the public linking him to suspected criminal operations.
According to the DCI, detectives tracked the former soldier to a hideout near the Kayole dumpsite in Embakasi, where he was arrested following what investigators described as a carefully coordinated raid.
“Acting on a tip-off from alert members of the public, detectives launched a targeted operation that led to the arrest of the former KDF special forces officer at his hideout within the Kayole dumpsite area,” the DCI said in a statement.
Police revealed that after his arrest, the suspect guided officers to his residence, where a search reportedly uncovered several items believed to be government stores and military equipment.
Among the items recovered were a round of 9mm ammunition, military shirts, military working dress uniforms, military trousers, a smoke jacket, a military bag, and a military jackknife.
Authorities say the recovery has raised fresh concerns over the illegal possession of military gear and the possible misuse of government-issued equipment by former security officers.
The suspect was later arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, where he faced charges related to possession of ammunition and unlawful possession of government stores.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a bond of Ksh1 million or an alternative cash bail of Ksh500,000. The case is scheduled for mention on June 2, 2026.
Following the operation, the DCI urged members of the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies by sharing information anonymously through its toll-free hotline and WhatsApp channels.
The arrest comes barely two months after another high-profile operation involving serving and former military-linked suspects in Kitengela, Kajiado County.
In March 2026, DCI detectives arrested a KDF officer alongside five other suspects over an alleged planned robbery targeting another military officer’s home.
According to investigators, the operation was launched after detectives received credible intelligence indicating that the suspects were preparing for the raid days in advance.
Authorities placed the group under close surveillance, monitoring their movements before moving in to foil the planned attack.
On the day of the alleged robbery, the suspects reportedly arrived at the target residence in a black Toyota Harrier while another getaway vehicle, a Toyota Ractis, remained stationed nearby with a driver on standby.
Detectives, who had already secured the area, swiftly moved in and arrested the suspects before the alleged mission could be carried out.
The latest arrest is expected to intensify scrutiny over the involvement of trained security personnel in criminal networks operating within major urban centres.
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