A police officer shot and killed his colleague following an argument at their workplace in Luanda, Vihiga County. He also allegedly escaped with a rifle belonging to the deceased after the incident.
The officer fatally shot Constable Nicholas Samoei at close range during the Friday morning incident of August 22.
Police said Samoei was shot once at close range, but 26 spent cartridges were later found outside where the body lay, raising questions about the shooting.
The body was discovered in a room next to a store containing government fertiliser that the two officers had been guarding. The deceased’s CZ rifle was missing, and police suspect the assailant fled with it.
According to police, the two officers had been assigned to secure the store at the school, which contained bags of subsidised fertiliser.
At the scene, investigators recovered 20 spent cartridges of 9mm ammunition outside the room and six spent cartridges of 7.62mm special rounds, together with one live round, outside the compound.
The body was taken to the mortuary pending autopsy and other procedures. A manhunt for the officer believed to be behind the shooting is ongoing, police said.
The incident comes weeks after another police officer killed two women at Kanyonyoo market in Kitui County on August 4. He remains at large after abandoning his AK-47 rifle with 26 bullets in a thicket and fleeing on foot.
The two incidents highlight growing concerns over trauma and stress among police officers.
Authorities have launched counselling services, while the National Police Service Commission has set up a specialised unit to handle officers’ mental health challenges. The counselling unit runs outreach programmes aimed at preventing mental health crises and substance abuse.
Officials say police officers are often on the frontline of community pressures, making them vulnerable to stress and its consequences.
