The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has confirmed the arrest and detention of two police officers following the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old Kenyan in Mukuru kwa Njenga, Embakasi, Nairobi, on January 11, 2026. The officers were arraigned at Milimani Law Courts on January 12, where a judge granted IPOA's request to detain them for 14 days to complete investigations. Preliminary findings indicate the shooting occurred at around 6:10 a.m. in Imara Daima during an encounter involving the deceased, his colleagues, and police officers.
According to IPOA, the deceased and two other individuals were delivering a motor vehicle to a client when they became involved in a traffic altercation with a matatu along the route. After the altercation, the matatu driver reportedly summoned fellow operators, prompting the three to flee the scene and seek refuge in a safer area. The vehicle was parked near Mukuru Community Centre School, after which the three began walking back toward the original accident site.
On their way, the three men were intercepted by two police officers who allegedly ordered them to lie on the ground. During the incident, one of the officers opened fire, striking the deceased in the head. The victim succumbed to his injuries on the spot due to their severity.
Ahmed Issack Hassan stated that he supervised a post-mortem conducted on January 11, which concluded that the deceased died from a single penetrating gunshot wound to the head. In a statement, IPOA said: "The two police officers involved were arrested and arraigned before the Milimani Law Courts this morning. The court granted the Authority's request for custodial orders and ruled that the suspects be detained for 14 days to allow for the completion of investigations."
IPOA has collected crucial material for its probe, including police records, documentation from the scene, witness accounts, and post-mortem findings. Reaffirming its mandate, the authority urged members of the public to remain calm, assuring that the investigation will be conducted independently, impartially, and in full accordance with the law.
