Police probe rise in fatal shootings involving VIP bodyguards

Detectives are seeking to address recent fatal shooting incidents involving police officers attached to VIPs.

Three people have in the past month been shot dead by police officers attached to VIPs as bodyguards.

They include two police officers. Two others are nursing wounds in the shooting incidents.

The latest incident happened on Sunday evening in the Kawangware area where a bodyguard attached to State House spokesman Hussein Mohamed shot dead a man he disagreed with during a pool bet.

Witnesses said he shot one Amos Lagat, 35, seven times outside a joint in the argument.

He was shot in the chest at close range.

But the said officer later reported to Muthangari police station that he had been attacked by unknown people and was forced to shoot in the air as he escaped.

He said the attackers wanted to rob him of his gun, a claim that is under probe.

The cop said he fractured his hand and later returned his gun to the station before being taken to hospital.

Witnesses told police the confrontation happened at a joint on Sunday, March 23 evening where the deceased had apparently won a pool bet in the Amboseli area.

The said officer was playing pool and disagreed leading to the confrontation and shooting that happened outside

He was rushed to St Immaculate Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said they are investigating the circumstances of the shooting.

Police said they are talking to several witnesses in the matter before taking further action.

The team will also talk to the said assailant.

The police said they were unable to talk to the said police officer as of Monday as he was said to be in a hospital bed.

The incident comes weeks after another officer attached to Parliament shot and killed a colleague at the Gigiri police station.

The assailant identified as Nahashon Kipkosgey Limo allegedly shot and injured a second colleague in the March 9 drama, witnesses said.

The three were among a group in a bar at the Gigiri police lines when they disagreed at night.

Witnesses said the group was having food and drinks when the altercation broke out over their ranks, leading to the shooting.

Another police officer attached to the Safaricom VIP protection unit is alleged to have shot and killed his colleague Raphael Kimuli Wambua who is attached to the Central Bank of Kenya in an argument in the Ruaraka area.

Constable Kipkoech Tarus was arrested and is facing murder charges following the February 21 incident.

Wambua was walking home with his brother, Police Constable Erick Ngolania when they were confronted by Tarus who allegedly shot the deceased.

Following the shooting, Tarus was reportedly subjected to mob justice by members of the public before being rescued by officers from Ruaraka Police Station.

Police spokesman Michael Muchiri termed the incidents isolated and assured all officers in the VIP protection unit undergo proper training and briefing.

“The incidents are being handled separately and professionally. They are isolated and we know we have a competent team at work,” he said.

This followed concerns some of those in the unit could be having trauma-related challenges, which need immediate attention.

He said the circumstances of the shooting incidents were different and assured justice to the victims.