IPOA deploys team after KMTC student killed in Huruma

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has deployed a Rapid Response Team from its Nairobi Regional Office to investigate the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old student in Huruma, Nairobi County.

The incident sparked violent protests and renewed scrutiny of police conduct during operations.

In a statement, IPOA Vice Chairperson Ann Wanjiku Mwangi said the authority had commenced investigations into the shooting of Sheril Adhiambo, who was killed on the evening of February 7, 2026, allegedly during a police pursuit of robbery suspects in the area.

Mwangi said IPOA investigators were already on the ground gathering evidence, recording witness statements and analysing available samples and exhibits to establish the circumstances under which the shooting occurred.

“IPOA extends its condolences to the family of Ms Sheril Adhiambo, calls for calm, and assures the public and the bereaved family of its commitment to conducting independent, impartial, and thorough investigations to establish culpability and ensure accountability,” Mwangi said.

The shooting occurred in Huruma Ngei I, with residents reporting that Adhiambo was hit by a stray bullet as police pursued a suspected thug in the neighbourhood.

The exact circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, with police yet to give a detailed account of how the shooting unfolded.

According to locals, the victim was a first-year student at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).

She had reportedly just completed her examinations and was at home assisting her mother at a fish kiosk when the fatal incident occurred. Her death triggered outrage among residents, who accused police of using excessive force in a densely populated residential area.

Anger quickly spilled onto the streets, with residents engaging police in running battles that stretched from Saturday night into Sunday morning.

During the chaos, at least three vehicles were set ablaze and the local police station was vandalised.

Protesters also blocked roads, lit fires and torched property, including buses and business stalls, bringing activities in the area to a standstill.

The unrest created an opportunity for criminal gangs, who reportedly took advantage of the disorder to loot shops and businesses. Security agencies later moved in to restore calm, firing shots in the air to disperse crowds and allow officers to remove Adhiambo’s body from the scene, which residents had initially blocked while protesting her killing.

Despite the intervention, tension remained high in Huruma on Sunday, with a heavy police presence and continuous patrols as authorities sought to prevent further violence.

Many businesses remained closed, and residents expressed fear and uncertainty over the situation.

Police said they were also investigating the shooting, but the incident has intensified calls for accountability and transparency in handling cases involving alleged police misconduct.

Among those weighing in is People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, who has demanded a rigorous and transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to Adhiambo’s death.

Karua said the killing of a young student under such circumstances was deeply troubling and underscored the urgent need for reforms in policing, particularly in the conduct of operations in civilian areas.