Police-KDF shootout, attacks on officers raise alarm over security
A series of violent confrontations involving police and military personnel, alongside brazen attacks on night patrols, has heightened national concern over the safety of security officers.
A Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier has been shot dead in a confrontation with police in Kiambu, as detectives hunt a gang that seriously injured two officers and escaped with two assault rifles in Nairobi.
The two incidents, which occurred separately, have heightened concerns over the safety of security personnel, the vulnerability of officers on night patrol and the growing danger posed by firearms falling into the wrong hands.
In Ruiru, Kiambu County, police shot dead soldier Munene Antony, 33, during an alleged exchange of fire in the early hours of Sunday, November 1.
According to a police report, officers from Kahawa Sukari Police Station were conducting routine patrols at about 1 am when a member of the public alerted them to two armed men allegedly threatening residents in the Covo area near Magunas, Kahawa Sukari.
The officers pursued the suspects and ordered them to surrender.
However, one of the men allegedly drew a firearm and opened fire at the officers, prompting them to return fire.
“The suspect who drew the gun was shot in the chest and right hand and was rushed to Ruiru Level 4 Hospital in serious condition but later died while receiving treatment,” the report read in part.
Police recovered a Jericho pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition and two spent cartridges at the scene.
“Officers also recovered a KDF identity card bearing the deceased’s name,” it added.
During preliminary questioning, the surviving suspect allegedly claimed that the pistol belonged to his brother, whom he described as a police officer. Detectives are expected to establish the ownership of the weapon and how it came into the suspects' possession.
The body was moved to General Kago Mortuary in Thika for preservation and postmortem examination.
Police said investigations were underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The incidents come amid other reported confrontations involving police and military personnel, raising questions about discipline, inter-agency relations and the security of government-issued firearms.
Meanwhile, two police officers attached to Ruai Police Station were seriously injured on Monday night after being attacked by a gang of motorcycle-riding men while on patrol. The assailants escaped with two AK-47 rifles, each loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.
According to a police incident report, members of the public alerted authorities after the officers were attacked and their firearms stolen.
The injured officers were identified as Corporal John Maritim, service number 79910, and Corporal Felistus Tuitoek, service number 99516.
“Maritim sustained a deep cut to the back of his head and injuries to his hands. He was reported to be unresponsive when officers visited him in hospital, while Tuitoek also sustained a deep cut to the back of her head and injuries to both hands, but remained responsive,” police said.
Police added that the injuries were believed to have been inflicted using a sharp object.
Members of the public rushed the officers to Reale Hospital in Utawala for treatment. Senior officers led by the Ruai Sub-County Police Commander visited the facility and assessed their condition.
One, serial number 5524217, had been issued to Maritim and was loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition. The second, serial number 5525776, was also loaded with 30 rounds.
Police officers have launched an operation to recover the weapons and arrest the suspects.
The case has been taken up by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Ruai, with further reports expected as investigations progress.
The theft of the rifles presents an additional security concern because the weapons could be used in subsequent robberies or attacks on security personnel and members of the public.
The incidents add to a series of cases involving attacks on police officers and the loss of government-issued firearms.
On October 26, a gang attacked officers manning a Mombasa County cess-collection checkpoint along Barabara ya Mchanga in Likoni, killing a county enforcement officer and injuring three others.
The assailants seized an AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition from an Administration Police officer. The stolen weapon was reportedly used to shoot the county enforcement officer, who died from his injuries.
Mombasa County Police Commander Stella Cherono confirmed that investigations had been launched to establish the attackers' identities and motive.
In a separate incident in March, an officer guarding an industrial park in Bonje, Jomvu, Mombasa, was assaulted by a gang that stole his AK-47 rifle and mobile phone.
The incidents illustrate the risks faced by officers working in isolated locations and during night operations, as well as the potential consequences when criminals gain access to service weapons.
The latest attacks also come against the backdrop of confrontations involving police and military personnel.
In September, an altercation between police officers and KDF soldiers at a roadblock near Turkana University College in Lodwar reportedly escalated after soldiers were accused of disarming a police officer.
The incident was followed by a confrontation at Lodwar Police Station after other soldiers reportedly sought the release of their colleagues.
Another confrontation involving police and KDF personnel was reported at the Likoni ferry crossing in Mombasa in September, prompting calls for investigations.
Although the circumstances of the incidents differ, they raise concerns about the potential for confrontations between security personnel to undermine public confidence and complicate law enforcement.
The Ruai case also raises questions about how officers operating in pairs or small patrol teams can be protected against coordinated attacks, especially in areas where criminals use motorcycles to approach targets and escape quickly.
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