A detective from Kenya's Directorate of Criminal Investigations was stabbed to death in Trans Nzoia County while attempting to arrest a murder suspect. The incident unfolded amid a violent clash with a group of youths, resulting in one young man also being shot dead. Authorities have arrested one suspect and launched probes into the attack.
In the Matisi area of Trans Nzoia County, a Kitale-based DCI officer was killed on Saturday when a gang of rowdy youths tried to free a murder suspect from custody. The officer, who was with colleagues on the arrest mission, succumbed to stab wounds during the ensuing fracas. One youth involved in the resistance was fatally shot by police.
Trans Nzoia County Criminal Investigation Officer Josephat Ndung’u confirmed the deaths and noted that investigations continue to clarify the motive and details of the assault. 'Investigations are ongoing to determine the motive and circumstances surrounding the attack,' Ndung’u stated. So far, one individual has been detained in relation to the incident, with authorities examining whether others participated in its planning or execution.
The attack highlights ongoing risks faced by law enforcement in Kenya. Just last month, on November 12, three DCI officers suffered serious injuries in Homa Bay County's Kasipul Constituency. They were ambushed by armed suspects during an operation linked to the killing of two youths in the Opondo area. The officers, including Rachuonyo South Sub-County DCI boss Daniel Muhuhi, had followed leads to Kosele Trading Centre and the homestead of the late former Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were in Kachien Village.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has not yet issued a report on the Trans Nzoia case, though it typically investigates such incidents for any police misconduct. This event underscores the challenges in apprehending suspects amid community tensions.