Police Recover M16 Rifle Linked to Four Murders Across Two Counties

Police have recovered an M16 rifle suspected to have been used in four murders reported in Isiolo and neighbouring Meru County, giving detectives a fresh line of investigation into killings recorded between January 2025 and February 2026.

The firearm, which had five rounds of 5.56×45mm ammunition, was recovered in the Kakili area of Burat Location, Isiolo County, during an intelligence-led multi-agency operation.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), officers from Isiolo County Police, National Police Reservists (NPRs) and National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) took part in the operation.

Police believe the rifle is linked to a suspected bandit who was recently charged with robbery with violence. Its recovery has now prompted detectives to examine whether the same firearm was involved in four separate killings across the two neighbouring counties.

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Four Murder Cases Under Investigation

One of the cases under review occurred on January 26, 2025, at Maili Tatu in Meru County. Detectives are now expected to establish whether forensic evidence from the scene could connect the killing to the recovered M16.

In Isiolo, a businesswoman was killed within the town’s Central Business District on July 20, 2025. Another murder followed at Sakama Bar in Isiolo town on December 24, with investigators now examining whether the firearm could have been involved in either incident.

The fourth case concerns the killing of a deputy principal at Leparua in Isiolo North Sub-County on February 18, 2026. With three of the four cases occurring in Isiolo County, detectives are now investigating the possible links between the killings and the recovered weapon.

Ballistic Tests to Establish Firearm Links

The M16 has been secured at the Isiolo Police Station armoury and will be forwarded to the National Forensic Laboratory for ballistic examination.

Investigators will use the tests to determine whether ammunition or ballistic evidence recovered from any of the four murder scenes can be matched to the rifle. The examination could help establish whether the firearm was used in the killings or rule out some of the suspected connections.

Describing the recovery as a breakthrough, the DCI said it had given detectives a crucial piece of the puzzle as they work to establish the firearm’s role in the four killings and determine whether it may have been used in other crimes.

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Intelligence Operation Leads to Recovery

The firearm was recovered after security agencies acted on what police described as actionable intelligence. The operation brought together different security actors, including police officers, NPRs and NGAOs, in a coordinated effort to locate the weapon.

Police said the recovery also highlighted the importance of intelligence and cooperation from local communities in efforts to combat serious crime.

For detectives, attention now shifts to the forensic examination of the M16 and further investigations into the four murder cases. Results from the National Forensic Laboratory will be critical in determining whether the firearm can be scientifically connected to any of the killings.

Authorities are also expected to investigate whether the rifle may have been used in other criminal incidents reported in the region.

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DCI headquarters. PHOTO/DCI