The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has
launched investigations into the fatal shooting of two boda boda riders in
Makongeni, Thika West.
In a statement on Tuesday, IPOA Chairperson Ahmed Issack
Hassan said this followed a notification from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations
(DCI) of the case involving one of their officers.
“On Sunday, September 7, 2025, IPOA received a notification
from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Thika West and Makongeni
Police Station in Thika West Subcounty, regarding the fatal shooting of two
‘Boda Boda’ motorists from Thika. The report linked the shooting to a police
officer attached to the DCI,” he said.
“Upon receiving the notification, commenced investigations
into the shooting, pursuant to the provision of Section 6(a) of the IPOA Act.”
The incident, according to IPOA, happened on Sunday,
September 7, 2025, after a road accident involving a police officer and a
motorcycle carrying two men.
IPOA said the officer, identified as Police Constable Eric
Gitonga, was driving an Audi when he collided with the motorcycle about 200
metres past Makongeni Police Station along the Thika–Garissa Highway.
A confrontation followed between the officer and the rider.
Both parties went to Makongeni Police Station to resolve the matter.
Traffic police officers from Thika Police Station were later
called to the scene.
According to the authority, the officer, who was allegedly
intoxicated, resisted attempts to disarm him and became violent.
He then fatally shot the rider, Kennedy Ojuma, and his
passenger, Stephen Mwendwa, before he was disarmed and detained at Thika Police
Station, and later transferred to Kiambu Police Station. I
The officer was arraigned at the Kiambu Law Courts on
Monday, September 8, where IPOA sought to hold him for 21 days to allow
investigations.
The court ruling on the request was expected today,
September 9.
Hassan said IPOA will oversee post-mortems on the two
victims, carry out ballistic tests on the officer’s firearm, review CCTV
footage, and record more witness statements.
