Police in Juakali, Turbo Sub-County, have arrested a police officer accused of fatally shooting two people at a local bar on Thursday night.
According to a police report filed at Juakali Police Station, Police Constable Erick Kirui, attached to Tembelio Police Station in Moiben, was heavily intoxicated and armed with an AK-47 rifle when he stormed Kokwet Bar and opened fire, killing two individuals and injuring another.
The victims have been identified as Caroline Malakwen, the bar owner and Kirui’s cohabiting partner, and Ignatius Kipchumba alias Mwala. A third individual, Antony Stephen Mbifa, sustained a head injury from a ricocheted bullet.
The incident occurred around 10:40 p.m. and was reported by members of the public. Officers from Sugoi Patrol Base, led by the Juakali OCS, responded swiftly and arrested Kirui as he attempted to flee the scene. He was found in possession of an AK-47 rifle loaded with 22 rounds of ammunition.
Police say Kirui had been assigned the weapon for night duties but instead took a boda boda to Kokwet Bar, where the fatal shooting occurred.
The Turbo Sub-County Police Commander and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers visited the scene, which was processed by crime scene investigators. The two bodies were moved to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) mortuary in Eldoret for post-mortem examination.
Investigations are ongoing and are being handled by DCI Turbo.
