Drama unfolded at Piai Trading Centre along the Mwea-Embu highway after detectives arrested a man found with a pistol in a bar.
The suspect, identified as Jamleck Kariuki, was arrested inside Club Cluster bar on the Gichugu side by detectives from Mwea East Sub-County.
Residents say Kariuki is a notorious and most wanted criminal who has been terrorizing locals.
According to drinkers who were in the bar at the time, they were shocked when detectives stormed in and recovered a pistol from the suspect's waist.
"We were taking beer normally at Club Cluster on the Gichugu side when detectives from Mwea East entered. To our surprise, a gun was removed from the waist of one man who was drinking. We were all shocked," said one reveler.
Detectives said the pistol had one live round lodged in its chamber and two spent cartridges were recovered.
"We know the suspect very well. He is from Gichugu and Piai borders Mwea and Gichugu. He has been mentioned in several robbery cases. Even his brother is not a good man. He went to Nairobi and has never been seen," the reveler added.
Boda boda operators said the operation involved many officers, some in uniform and others in plain clothes.
"There were very many police officers here. Some were uniformed while others had civilian clothes," said an operator.
A relative confirmed that Kariuki was taken to Wang'uru Police Station.
Detectives have confirmed that the suspect is being held at Wang'uru Police Station and will be arraigned at Wang'uru Law Courts.