Police Constable Eric Nyaga in a Kiambu court on September 8, 2025The Independent Policing Oversight
Authority has applied to detain a police constable for 21 days to allow investigations into the fatal shooting of two men on the Thika–Garissa Highway.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Jacqueline Karani, Ipoa said it needs time to complete investigations into the killing of Kennedy Ojuma, 38, and Stephen Maweu, 39, who were allegedly shot by constable Eric Nyaga on September 7.
An affidavit filed by the assistant director of forensics, Paul Njihia, said Nyaga was driving his Audi car when he was involved in a minor traffic accident with a motorcycle.
The officer, who appeared intoxicated, refused to be disarmed by traffic officers who arrived at the scene, Njihia said.
He said during the
confrontation that followed, Nyaga allegedly drew his weapon and fatally
shot the two men.
He was later arrested and disarmed by traffic officers and taken to Thika police station.
The officer's firearm and ammunition were booked as exhibits. Following the incident, angry
members of the public reportedly vandalised and torched his car.
The burnt shell was towed to Makongeni police station, while the bodies of the
two victims were taken to General Kago Funeral Home.
Njihia told the court that preliminary findings said the officer had used excessive and unjustifiable force.
He said investigators required more time to interview witnesses, including police officers who were present at the scene and to conduct a forensic analysis of the firearm and ammunition used in the shooting.
The Ipoa director said post-mortem examinations had not yet been performed on the bodies, which could potentially yield key evidence relevant to the investigation.
Njihia also said the team needs to reconstruct the crime scene and consult the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on the next steps.
However, defence lawyer Philip Langat opposed the application, saying Ipoa had not provided compelling reasons to justify detaining the officer.
He said investigations could proceed without keeping the officer in custody and urged the court to release him on bail.
Njihia also requested the return of the officer’s mobile phone and shirt, which were seized during the arrest and asked that, if detention is necessary, the officer be held at Gigiri police station instead of Kiambu.
Chief magistrate Karani was expected to deliver a ruling on the matter yesterday.
The case has reignited concerns over police brutality.
A 2021 Ipoa report says officers in the National Police Service were linked to an average of 13 murders annually, often involving family members, colleagues or acquaintances.
The same report documented 11 suicides among police officers each year.
In July this year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen issued a directive reminding police officers that use of force and firearms must strictly comply with the law.
The directive said officers should only use force in self-defence or in defence of others against an imminent threat of death or serious injury.
The authority made the application before Chief Magistrate Jacqueline Karani, saying it needs more time to complete investigations on the fatal shooting of Kennedy Ojuma, 38, and Stephen Mwendwa Maweu, 39, that occurred following a road accident.
Ipoa's assistant director of forensics Paul Njihia told the court that the suspect, Eric Nyaga, was driving his Audi car when he was involved in a ‘slight injury road traffic accident’ with a motorcycle along the Thika-Garissa highway on September 7.
Njihia added that preliminary investigations indicated that the officer had used excessive and unjustifiable force in ending the lives of the two people.
