Ten cops detained after fatal shooting in Nakuru failed bhang operation

Ten police officers were arrested on Monday after a mission to recover a haul of bhang from a house in London Estate, Nakuru, turned tragic when one of the locals was shot dead.

This was after a group of police officers tried to arrest suspected traffickers in the area.

This turned confrontational with stones being hurled at the officers, who shot back, allegedly killing one local, police said.

Police said a team of police on patrol had allegedly arrested a known drug mule in Nakuru town.

They sought to know the source of the marijuana that the trafficker usually sells.

He agreed to take them to the said source. On reaching the area, police arrested three suspects believed to be key in the trade.

Little did the officers know that the three wielded power and influence in the area.

A mob mobilised and started to stone the officers, demanding the release of the three, witnesses said.

The officers shot in the air to disperse the mob and managed to escape after freeing the suspects. It was then that one of the locals was shot in the mouth. He died instantly.

The locals demanded action on the officers blocking roads and lighting bonfires there.

In the aftermath, irate youths stormed Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital, disrupting services for several hours as tensions in the community escalated.

They wanted to pick up the body from the local mortuary.

More personnel were sent to the area to beef up security. Authorities ordered all the officers who were involved in the exercise to be arrested.

In total, 10 cops were detained pending investigations.

Police said they are under investigation to determine who pulled the trigger that killed the victim.

They were disarmed and their weapons taken for ballistic tests as part of the probe into the fatal shooting.

Nakuru County Police Commander Michael Mwaura confirmed that the officers involved have been placed in custody pending investigations.

“All officers have been subjected to investigations. The firearms have been taken for ballistic analysis. All officers are under arrest,” he said.

Mwaura said an identification parade will be conducted on Tuesday, June 10, to determine which officer fired the fatal shot.

He also confirmed that one police officer was injured during the incident and is currently hospitalised.

Mwaura explained that the confrontation began during a routine patrol. 

Officers were patrolling. They arrested a youth for peddling bhang. After arresting him, he claimed to know a dealer. When they reached the dealer’s location, that’s when the altercation broke out.”

The matter is under probe.