Police Officer Denies Illegal Firearm Charge, Blames Girlfriend for Frame-Up

A serving police officer accused of possessing an illegal firearm has pleaded not guilty, with his defense team claiming in court that his girlfriend framed him following a bitter domestic and business dispute.

Fred Mwela Chebai faces charges of possessing a firearm without a certificate, contrary to Section 4(1) as read with Sections 4(2)(a) and 4(3)(b) of the Firearms Act. The prosecution alleges that on April 10, 2025, in the Ruaka Border area of Kiambu County, officers found Chebai in possession of an Ekol pistol (serial number EP-16114911) without a valid license.

Authorities further claim that the circumstances surrounding the weapon’s possession created a reasonable presumption that Chebai intended to use it to breach public order.

During cross-examination, court proceedings revealed that the complainant in the case, Grace Wanjiku Wamboi, is Chebai’s girlfriend and had recorded a formal statement with investigating officers.

The prosecution contends that Wamboi discovered the pistol hidden inside a shoe and subsequently turned it over to a building caretaker.

However, defense attorneys Danstan Omari and Shadrack Wambui disputed this version of events. The defense team argued that Wamboi knew about the firearm beforehand and asserted that Wamboi and Chebai engaged in a physical struggle over the pistol before it ended up in the caretaker’s hands.

The defense further told the court that a feud erupted between the couple after Chebai accused Wamboi of possessing cannabis (bhang). Defense counsel argued that Wamboi had a clear motive to fabricate the illegal firearm claim against Chebai due to an ongoing dispute over ownership of a business they jointly ran.

Under cross-examination, the investigating officer acknowledged under oath that he did not know why the accused would have a motive to hold an illegal weapon. The investigator confirmed that Chebai is an active police officer stationed at Sololo in Moyale, though he was off-duty during the alleged incident.

Additionally, the investigating officer testified that the seized pistol is not an official police issue and its true source remains unknown. Prosecutors also introduced evidence regarding live ammunition allegedly recovered in connection with the seizure.

The trial continues.

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