A police officer was shot dead by a colleague on Friday morning at Thindigwa Police Post in Kiambu County.
Chief Inspector Duncan Maina, who had arrived at the station from an assignment in Mombasa, engaged in a heated dispute with the deceased, Evanson Kipng'etich Busienei, leading to use of his firearm.
A police report revealed that Busienei, in the company of another man, stopped Maina and demanded he be given the vehicle Maina was driving.
Maina informed his colleague that the vehicle bearing reg no KAU 429U belonged to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).
After warning him he would shoot, Busienei told him to do so while advancing towards him. This prompted the Chief Inspector to stop the vehicle, draw his pistol and shoot Busienei at close range.
Maina then alighted and shot continuously at Busienei when he further advanced towards him. He then shot towards the other man accompanying Busienei, but the fellow took cover in a construction site
Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet spoke on the matter and explained that it was a case of mistaken identity.
"From what the officer told the authorities, he saw persons whom he thought were up to no good. In what he thought was the right thing to do, he confronted them and used his firearm," explained Boinnet.
He also stated that the Kiambu county commander and the DCIO would investigate the incident to establish the truth of the matter.
“Should it turn out that the officer was at fault, he will certainly appear in court and charged with the right offences,” informed Boinnet.
The incident happened just hours before Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i moved to restore order in the use of firearms in the country.
He disbanded the Firearms Licensing and Control Board and ordered that all licensed guns be reverted.
The CS explained that the changes were to be undertaken with an aim of reconstituting a new body.
