IPOA launches investigations into killings in Murang'a

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has launched investigations into the shooting of two men in Murang'a county. 

In a statement, Ipoa said it has since established that police action resulted in the loss of two lives. 

"The Murang’a county commander, Mr Ali Nuno has since notified the Authority’s Regional Office in Nyeri, of the incident. This is in line with the provisions of the NPS Act," the statement read.

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IPOA also said the authority has dispatched a Rapid Response Team from Nairobi to beef up Nyeri regional investigators during the course. 

"The Authority shall take appropriate action including recommending to the Director of Public Prosecutions the prosecution of any person found culpable. In all its investigations, IPOA is impartial, fair and transparent," the statement read. 

IPOA's statement comes after a tweet posted by the Director of Criminal Investigations elicited mixed reactions on social media.

The tweet, which has since been deleted, showed the suspect shot dead.

The DCI in its deleted tweet alleged that the two armed robbers were engaged in a shoot-out scuffle with the officers during the 9am operation. 

However, Kenyans on social media question why an image whose source is yet to verified showed the suspects handcuffed and surrounded by police officers.

Many wondered at what time did the handcuffed suspects engage police in shoot out leading to their death.

A Twitter user by the name of Truth Seeker posted the image of the two men, who were handcuffed, sitting on the ground and surrounded by the police. 

The men were allegedly part of a gang that had Saturday raided a bank and robbed an unknown amount of money, police said.

The shooting happened near Kinyona Forest at around 9 am.

On Saturday, the thugs had staged a robbery at Unaitas SACCO Mununga branch, within Kigumo town.

They made away with an unknown amount of money after disarming a police officer and taking possession of his G3 rifle.

A gang of six that has been on police radar had on February 25, wrestled an AK-47 rifle loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition from a police officer on patrol within Muthithi area, which they used in Saturday’s robbery incident.

In a joint operation by officers from Murang’a county backed up by an elite team from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, the officers combed Kinyona forest of the larger Aberdare Park before coming across the two.

Bodies belonging to the fallen thugs were taken to Murang'a Level V Hospital mortuary awaiting identification as a manhunt for the rest of the suspects ensued.