A Kiambu court will on Tuesday rule on whether a DCI officer arrested over the alleged fatal shooting of two riders in Thika Town on Sunday will be detained for 21 days.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is seeking to have the officer detained for 21 days over the alleged murders.
The cop was produced in court on Monday over the fatal shooting near Makongeni Police Station in Thika Town.
This followed a non-injury accident that escalated to a dramatic road rage, which went bad.
Deputy Registrar Jackline Karani on Monday
directed that the suspect remain in custody at Kiambu Police Station until the ruling
is delivered at 3 pm.
He was presented in court after he allegedly
shot dead 38-year-old Kennedy Ojuma and 39-year-old Stephen Mwenda along the
Thika–Garissa Highway on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
According to IPOA, the incident followed an
accident involving the cop's black Audi and a motorbike.
Angry riders reportedly set his vehicle ablaze,
after which he allegedly refused help from traffic officers and opened fire, killing
the two riders instantly.
He was arrested and booked at Thika Police
Station, with his licensed firearm, a Duma pistol, and ammunition seized.
IPOA asked the court to allow his detention
for three weeks to facilitate ballistic tests, postmortems, witness interviews,
and further scene investigations.
His lawyer, Philip Langat, however, opposed the
application, saying the Constitution only allows detention beyond 24 hours if
compelling reasons are given.
He argued the suspect had not attempted to interfere
with investigations and was ready to cooperate if released on bail.
Langat further asked the court to preserve his
client’s clothes as defence exhibits and, if detention was deemed necessary, to
transfer him to Gigiri Police Station for security reasons.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
supported IPOA’s application, insisting the officer was not “an ordinary civilian”
but a licensed gun holder who could obstruct investigations.
The incident followed a road rage stemming from a
non-injury accident in the area.
This comes amid concerns about the trend involving boda boda riders who turn unruly whenever one of theirs is involved in an accident.
At least three cases of arson have been
reported in a month and involving the riders.
There is a push to regulate the industry to ensure the rule of law is observed.
Stakeholders in the sector are calling for measures to regulate the industry at large amid resistance.
