By MUNENE KAMAU
A police officer was shot dead by his colleague in a mysterious incident at Kagio Township in Kirinyaga County.
The deceased is said to have been hit accidentally by a stray bullet fired by his senior as they apprehended a drunk man who was armed with a kitchen knife in a residential plot at around 10.30 Pm on Friday.
The officers attached to Kagio Police Station had responded to a distress call-that a man wanted to kill his wife after they picked a quarrel.
Witnesses said the couple started fighting after the man arrived in the house while drunk before he armed himself with a knife, vowing to teach the wife a lesson.
“The wife dashed out of their house with the husband in hot pursuit and sought refuge in my house where we locked the door from inside,” said Mary Muthoni, a neighbour.
Muthoni told journalists at the scene Saturday that two police officers arrived later and broke into the house the assailant had retreated to, but refused to drop the knife he was holding.
Kirinyaga Central OCPD Patrick Oduma said the deceased was hit on the head at a point blank range after the other officer pulled the trigger as they suppressed the said wife battler.
“He died on the spot and the suspect escaped in the ensuing confusion,” said the police chief, adding that the police officer who pulled the trigger is being held for further interrogation.
Oduma described the incident as an accident, noting that the two officers had responded to a distress call as they patrolled the area.
Bloodstains were visible at the door where the slain officer fell after the fatal shooting.
Residents said the suspect had lived in the plot for two months.
