Ten police officers from Nakuru West Police Station were taken into custody on Monday night after a civilian named Dan was shot and killed during a failed drug raid in London Estate, Nakuru West.
The incident, which also left one officer injured, has triggered public outrage, sparked protests, and prompted the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the officers’ conduct.
During a routine patrol, the officers acted on information from a suspected drug mule and targeted a house in London Estate believed to be a hub for marijuana trafficking.
According to Nakuru County Police Commander Michael Mwaura, the officers had earlier arrested a known drug peddler in Nakuru town, who then led them to three key suspects allegedly involved in the trade.
However, the operation took a violent turn when the suspects resisted arrest, leading to a confrontation with local residents. Eyewitnesses reported that chaos broke out as residents, angered by the arrests, began pelting the officers with stones and demanded the release of the three suspects.
In response, the police allegedly opened fire to disperse the crowd, resulting in the death of Dan—a local man who worked at a nearby dumpsite.
Residents claim he was shot in the mouth, with one distraught woman saying, “They shot him in the mouth! We just want our friend’s body back.” The exact circumstances of the shooting remain unclear, prompting ballistic tests on the officers’ firearms to determine who fired the fatal shot.
In the aftermath, enraged youths stormed Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital, disrupting services for several hours as they attempted to retrieve Dan’s body from the mortuary.
Additional police personnel were deployed to restore order, and the ten officers involved in the operation were disarmed and detained for questioning.
Commander Mwaura confirmed that an identification parade is scheduled for Wednesday to determine who was responsible for the shooting. “All officers are under arrest, and their firearms have been taken for ballistic analysis,” he said.
The incident comes amid heightened concerns over rising crime in Nakuru, including murders, robberies, and drug-related activities.
Just days earlier, on June 1, a separate incident in Bondeni Estate saw a police officer, Constable Josphat Ruto, killed and two others injured in a shootout with an armed gang. Seven suspects were arrested, and an AK-47 rifle was recovered—underscoring the escalating violence in the area.
As a result, IPOA has commenced an investigation to determine whether the use of deadly force in London Estate was justified. Preliminary findings are expected to shed light on the officers’ actions.
Community leaders have called for calm, while emphasising the need for transparency and accountability. A local elder stated, “This isn’t the first time police bullets have killed someone. We need justice for Dan—and assurances that this won’t happen again.”
As investigations continue, the detained officers remain in custody, and the community awaits answers. The incident has reignited calls for police reform, with many urging better training, oversight, and community engagement to prevent further loss of life.
– By Jeremiah Richu
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