Drunk officer kills wife, man with AK-47 at Uasin Gishu pub before arrest

Police arrest officer after accused of fatally shooting his wife and another man inside a bar in Uasin Gishu. [File,Standard]

Police in Uasin Gishu have arrested an armed officer accused of fatally shooting his wife and another man inside a bar while drunk before attempting to flee.

The officer, identified as Police Constable Erick Kirui of Tembelio Police Station, allegedly opened fire at Kokwet Pub within Juakali Centre on Thursday, June 26, killing Caroline Malakwen and Ignatius Kipchumba, also known as Mwala.

Malakwen owned the pub and was cohabiting with Kirui, police explained.

According to a police report, members of the public raised an alarm when Kirui, who was armed with an AK-47 rifle, started shooting inside the pub while drunk.

Turbo Sub County Police Commander and Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers visited the scene and arrested Kirui while he tried to flee on a motorcycle.

“Officers managed to arrest and disarm Kirui as he attempted to escape after the shooting,” the report said.

Police recovered the rifle, which was loaded with twenty-two rounds of ammunition.

A man identified as Antony Stephen Mbifa was injured by a ricocheting bullet during the shooting and was taken for treatment, police noted.

 Police explained that Kirui had been issued the firearm for night duties, but reportedly used a motorcycle to travel to the pub where the incident occurred.

 Authorities have removed the bodies to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary in Eldoret pending post-mortem examinations.