Detectives poke holes in claims of assassination on ant-graft boss

A bullet found at a building owned by EACC chairman Philip Kinisu in February had rusted, implying it had been there for a long time or had not been properly stored.

A ballistic examination report from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations also shows the bullet could have been fired from a pistol, contrary to earlier reports that it was from a "high-calibre rifle".

On Tuesday, Mr Kinisu blamed corruption cartels for the criminal investigations launched against him and vowed not to resign, adding that there was an attempt on his life.

"A high-calibre gun fitted with a silencer was fired into my private office from a distance of 300 metres, he said. "I was shaken and felt intimidated but resolved to soldier on.”

Experts, however, said the 9x19mm calibre bullet can only fire effectively within 50 metres.

It could also not be linked to any known past cases of shooting, said the report signed by Alex Mdindi Mwandawiro, a firearms examinations expert.

The bullet had six engraved areas with right-hand twists, but only three were suitable for comparative analysis.

Engraved areas are "land impressions" characteristic of the rifling in the barrel of the firearm from which it was shot, according to forensicmag.com.

"Typically, the process of matching a bullet to a specific firearm involves firing a second bullet from the firearm and then making a direct visual comparison using a side by side comparative microscope," says an article on the website.

On February 25, Evans Mbugua, an agent at Kose Heights, a building owned by Mr Kinisu, reported to police that he had noticed a broken window on the fifth floor. He then saw on the floor a metallic object suspected to be a bullet head.

Interestingly, police were investigating an alleged offence of malicious damage to property.

Also, contrary to reports that the bullet was aimed at the embattled anti-graft boss, detectives said the office was then under construction and had not been occupied.