A senior ballistics expert has told the High Court in Kibera that a firearm allegedly connected to former Pangani police officer Ahmed Rashid cannot be conclusively linked to bullets recovered from a 2017 shooting in Eastleigh.
Testifying before Justice Diana Kavedza, firearm examiner Commissioner Lawrence Nthiwa said his analysis did not establish a definitive connection between the weapon presented in court and the recovered bullets.
“I did not reach a conclusive finding that the bullets were fired from that exhibit,” Nthiwa stated, explaining that the deformations on the bullets could have resulted from striking a hard surface after discharge.
He added that while polygonal rifling common in Glock and Jericho pistols produces similar impressions, only unique markings can positively identify the weapon used. “The transfer of markings may be insufficient. Even if they appear to align, it would be improper to conclude they came from the same firearm,” he told the court.
Nthiwa, who has over two decades of experience in ballistics, presented his findings on items collected after the March 31, 2017, incident along Eastleigh’s 4th Street, where two young men were fatally shot outside Amal Shopping Complex. Rashid is accused of murdering the pair.
According to his report, the exhibits included bullets, bullet fragments, spent cartridges, live rounds, a toy gun, and a Chinese-made AK-47 rifle. His analysis showed:
Bullets and fragments marked A, B2, and C1 had rifling impressions consistent with Glock- or Jericho-type pistols.
Fragments labeled B1, C2, C3, and C4 were consistent with Ceska or Browning pistols.
Ten spent cartridges had been discharged from at least two firearms: some from a CZ 75 Ceska pistol, others from a Jericho or Browning pistol.
He further testified that a toy pistol, entered as Exhibit D, had been crudely modified with a welded cylindrical pipe but was incapable of firing live rounds. He classified it as an “imitation firearm” under the Firearms Act. Three live rounds (Exhibits E1–E3) were suitable for use in 9mm pistols and were successfully test-fired using two Jericho pistols submitted for comparison.
Nthiwa also confirmed that the recovered AK-47 rifle was mechanically sound but did not match any bullets or cartridges from the Eastleigh crime scene.
Separately, police officer Japheth Mugambi testified that photographs taken at the scene did not show any firearm next to the victims. He said only one image, showing the body of a man in a yellow T-shirt, depicted a gun.
The case will proceed tomorrow for further hearing.
