In a horrifying midnight incident that has left Eldoret residents reeling, a police officer is accused of shooting dead his girlfriend and a man she was allegedly romantically involved with. The officer, who is stationed at Tembelio Police Post in Ainabkoi Sub-County, is said to have walked into the woman’s bar, confronted the pair, and opened fire using his official firearm.
The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday, 27 June 2025, at Kokwet Bar, located in the densely populated Jua Kali area of Turbo Constituency, Uasin Gishu County. The woman, identified by locals only as “Mama P,” is said to have been seated with the male victim when her boyfriend, the officer, showed up unexpectedly.
Locals reported hearing several gunshots before screams filled the night. Police arrived shortly after and sealed off the area. The victims’ bodies were transported to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) mortuary in Eldoret for post-mortem examination.
According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the officer appeared visibly disturbed, stormed into the bar, and headed straight to the table where the two were seated. Words were exchanged, tempers flared, and in the chaos that followed, he reportedly reached for his weapon and fired multiple shots, killing both on the spot.
“He didn’t hesitate. He shouted something about betrayal and just pulled out his gun. We thought it was a joke—then he fired,” recounted one of the bar attendants, who fled the scene in panic.
The main suspect is a serving police constable, whose name remains withheld as the investigation progresses. He has since been arrested and disarmed by fellow officers who responded to the scene.
The female victim is a well-known businesswoman in the area and the owner of Kokwet Bar. Residents described her as “a friendly and hardworking woman” who had operated the establishment for several years.
The male victim, reportedly a frequent patron of the bar, remains unidentified by authorities but is believed to have been in a romantic relationship with the woman, either recent or ongoing.
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi confirmed the arrest and disarmament of the suspect, stating: “He used his official firearm. We have taken the weapon and have him in custody. The law will take its course.”
The officer, according to Mwanthi, had just completed his night shift before heading to the bar—a detail that has raised questions over firearm control within the service.
The motive appears to be rooted in jealousy and rage over an alleged love affair. Preliminary investigations suggest that the officer had grown suspicious of his girlfriend’s relationship with the man. According to witnesses and neighbours, tensions had been building between the couple in recent weeks, with frequent arguments and reports of mistrust.
“He had warned her before—he didn’t want her talking to other men, even regular customers,” a neighbour claimed. “But she dismissed it, saying he was being too possessive.”
On the night of the incident, the woman was reportedly hosting her regular customers when the officer arrived unannounced. A brief exchange allegedly turned heated when the officer saw the woman laughing with the other man. That’s when the violence erupted.
“It wasn’t just jealousy—it was rage,” a witness said. “He didn’t just shoot once. He made sure they were both dead.”
Police have since arrested the suspect and placed him in custody at an undisclosed station within Eldoret, as detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) take over the probe.
Crime scene officers collected ballistic evidence, including spent cartridges and surveillance footage from the bar. The firearm used—a standard-issue police rifle—has been taken for forensic analysis.
Commander Mwanthi noted that the investigation will cover both the criminal case and an internal review by police oversight bodies. “The matter is serious. Not only are we looking at two counts of murder, but also reviewing how an officer had access to a loaded weapon after duty hours,” he said.
Furthermore, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is expected to join the probe, especially in light of growing concern over mental health and discipline within the police service.
Human rights groups and community leaders are now renewing calls for urgent reforms, including mandatory mental health assessments and stricter firearm regulations for officers.
“What we are seeing is not just a crime—it is a symptom of deeper issues within the police force,” said a local civil society advocate. “We cannot keep ignoring the mental strain officers face. But we also cannot excuse this level of brutality.”
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