Boy,five, kills himself with dad's firearm in Embakasi, Nairobi

Police are investigating an incident in which a five-year-old shot himself dead using his father's firearm in Embakasi, Nairobi.

The body Sydney Saina Kiprop was found in a pool of blood after he apparently shot himself in the chest in his parents' bedroom.

His father, Constable Sammy Kiprop, is a police officer attached to Juja Police Station. He was in the bathroom while his wife was in the kitchen when the boy shot himself at about 9 am.

The parents told police they heard a gunshot then rushed to the bedroom where they found the body of their son in a pool of blood.

Sidney is reported to have retrieved the gun from a drawer where Kiprop had kept it.

Police who visited the scene said they recovered a spent cartridge. Nairobi Police boss Japheth Koome said they are investigating the incident. Police are also investigating whether the boy may have been shot by someone else.

"That is a possibility but we will wait for the probe to be completed," said an officer.

The boy was rushed to Bliss Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Other senior officials said Kiprop is likely to be charged with negligently handling the weapon.
The weapon was taken away by detectives from Embakasi Police Station.

Sydney's body was moved to Nairobi's City Mortuary.
Koome said a postmortem would be conducted to establish the cause of the death.

"The autopsy can also tell the distance that the bullet was shot. We will know more," he said.

Cases of misuse of legal and illegal firearms are on the rise. This applies both those issued to civilians and government agents. Police say there have been instances of negligence on the part of holders and called for caution.

Meanwhile, former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile was injured when his car was involved in an accident near Devki, Athi River.

His car collided with another car at about 3 am. Witnesses said Ndile sustained a fractured leg and hand.
Ndile was driving from Nairobi towards Machakos when the accident occurred.

His car collided with a trailer causing the injuries. He was the one driving at the time of the accident. He was admitted at a local hospital and is in stable condition.