The Trans Nzoia shooting is a case of professionalism among the Kenyan police in a case of excessive force.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) says it has dispatched what it calls its Rapid Response Unit to investigate police killings where at least 10 people are said to have been shot by police officers with five dead at Kolongolo village in Kwanza,Trans Nzoia County.
Among them was Assembly Speaker Joshua Werunga who are currently nursing injuries following the confrontation with police.
Mr Werunga was hit with a blunt object.
Police officers in Trans Nzoia County reportedly opened fire on residents of Kolongolo village leaving four dead and several others injured, including county assembly Speaker Joshua Werunga #CofekCares pic.twitter.com/u005QCd7QY
— Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) (@CofekRebranded) December 17, 2018
The officers had reportedly gone to arrest a man suspected to have attacked a woman.
When they arrived at the suspect’s homestead, a scuffle ensued as the suspect resisted arrest and his friends protested the manner in which the police were handling him.
It was then that one of the police officers is said to have fired his gun, killing two people on the spot.
“The officers had gone to arrest a man identified as Dan Juma suspected to have assaulted Metrin Shikuku, who is his wife, but [refused to be handcuffed],” said Mr Mbui a local.
Following the killings, local residents are reported to have hurled stones at the police officers leading to the shooting of the other victims.
Wishing all those injured during yesterday’s unfortunate clash between residents of Kolongolo /Kwanza sub county and Police ,including Trans Nzoia County Speaker Werunga speedy recovery and good health.Get well soon ! pic.twitter.com/Da1pBMfO0F
— Eugene L. Wamalwa (@EugeneLWamalwa) December 17, 2018
Trans Nzoia County Assembly Speaker Joshua Werunga was hit with a blunt object on the head and taken to taken to different hospitals in Kitale town for first-aid before he was transfered to Eldoret for further treatment.
The other victims, numbering at least 10, were admitted at Mt Elgon and Kitale County Referral hospitals.
The officer has been taken to Kitale Police Station as investigations start on whether he used excessive force in the incident that left a total of five people dead.
The shooting incident occurred at about 4pm on Sunday when three police officers responded to a domestic dispute report.
IPOA launches investigations into alleged fatal shootings and injuries to civilians in Kolongolo. ^DD @ntvkenya @citizentvkenya @KTNKenya @dailynation @CapitalFMKenya @K24Tv @StandardKenya @TheStarKenya @KTNNewsKE @NationFMKe @Kiss100kenya @KBCChannel1 @Classic105Kenya pic.twitter.com/8KX9S9Xjl0
— IPOA (@IPOA_KE) December 17, 2018
The IPOA Act mandates the Authority to undertake the following key functions: To investigate deaths and serious injuries caused by police action. To investigate police misconduct. To monitor, review and audit investigations and actions by internal affairs unit of the police. To conduct inspections of police premises. To monitor and investigate policing operations and deployment. To review the functioning of the internal disciplinary process. Reporting.
Did police use excessive force?