A Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer in Molo, Nakuru County, has been arrested and disarmed following an alleged shooting incident involving a bodaboda rider on Wednesday night. The officer, a sergeant in rank, reportedly confronted the rider for taking his wife home late before opening fire, injuring the victim.
The injured rider, identified as Edwin Keitany, was admitted to the Nairobi Women’s Hospital in Nakuru. According to medics, Keitany sustained severe soft tissue injuries, with a CT scan revealing multiple bullet fragments in the right frontal region. He was scheduled to undergo head surgery on Saturday to remove the fragments.
From his hospital bed, Keitany recorded a statement with the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA). He recounted that a female passenger had hired him to transport her home to Ole Polos. Upon arrival, a man confronted him, demanding to know why he had brought his wife home. A heated exchange ensued, culminating in Keitany being shot and left bleeding.
Following the incident, police seized the officer’s pistol, which contained 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The officer remains in police custody as investigations continue.
This incident adds to a growing list of violent altercations involving police officers in Kenya. On March 23, a police officer attached to the State House Spokesman, Hussein Mohamed, allegedly shot dead a man in a dispute over a pool game in Kawangware, Nairobi. Earlier that month, a police officer stationed at Parliament shot and killed a colleague during a rank-related argument, also injuring a second officer at the Gigiri police canteen.
In February, an officer from the VIP protection unit shot and killed a colleague seconded to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) during a confrontation in Ruaraka. He was later arrested.
Authorities insist these are isolated incidents but acknowledge the growing concern over police-related shootings. Experts attribute many cases to job-related trauma, prompting the government to introduce mental health programs to address psychological stress among officers.
As investigations continue, the case in Nakuru highlights the urgent need for reforms and mental health interventions within Kenya’s police force to prevent further tragic incidents.
