Police officer kills teacher in cold blood

Christine Maonga who was killed by her ex lover who is a police officer on March 14, 2019. [PHOTO:BENJAMIN SAKWA]

At least five people were left nursing bullet injuries yesterday in Navakholo Sub County when locals engaged the police in running battles.

This is after a police officer known as Patrick Oita Nyapara allegedly shot Christine Maonga aged 26, who until her untimely death was a teacher at Navakholo Secondary School.

The incident took place between 6.30pm-7.00pm on Thursday evening when the officer is said to have walked into her house (rented premise) and shot her three times at close range.

Police were forced to use live bullets and tear gas canisters to repulse the irate residents up to from 8.00pm-2.00am on Friday. They were protesting against the brutal murder of the teacher.

Spent cartridges, used tear gas canisters, burnt tyres and stones scattered all over Navakholo market.

Josphat Olengo, an eyewitness told the Standard on Saturday that he was at the market centre when he heard three bullets fired in the air. He said that they rushed to the scene only to find the deceased (Maonga) lying in a pool of blood at the door steps of her rental house.

He said the officer and the deceased had earlier quarreled during the day attracting the attention of neighbours who intervened.

"Little did we know that the officer would return in the evening to attack the woman," said Olengo.

Locals said the two had sired a child together who is three years old before separating.

"Most of the times, the officer is the one who takes the child to and from school. He previously accused her of infidelity when he realized she was dating another man who is a medical doctor,” said Mr Olengo.

He said police responded after two hours but were repulsed by angry locals, forcing the officers to open fire at the protesters injuring at least five people.

“The driver of Navakholo Sub County Hospital who came to pick the body of the deceased found himself in the mix and was shot at the back and was rushed to the county referral facility where he is fighting for his life,” said Olengo.

Police had a rough time containing rowdy students from Navakholo Secondary School who were taught by the deceased.

Shaban Odugi said the police lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the students who stormed a police station protesting the killing of their teacher.

“We thank God none of the students was injured in the fracas when police engaged them in running battles,”

According to Odugi, the suspect who is still at large was in charge of armory at Navakholo Police Station.

He also claimed that two years ago, the officer while serving at Malaha police post, shot a girlfriend but no action was taken.

Her family in Kaundi Village in Bunyala West location were still in shock after receiving news that their daughter had been shot dead.

Her uncle, Ernest Makina, said that they received the news around 8pm and rushed to the scene but were prevented by the police from seeing their slain kin until the irate residents forced there way to the police station.

Mr Makina said the police have not given them any information over the death of the teacher, adding that they want justice to be served.

“Maonga had just been employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) a few weeks ago and was yet to get her first salary. All along he has been a teacher employed by the Board of Management (BoM) of Navakholo secondary school,” said Makina.

The deceased’s elder brother, Kelvin Maonga, dismissed the narrative that his younger sister had been married to a doctor saying the family knows she was still single.

“They separated with the police officer two years ago and even during holidays, he used to come. She was still single and we don’t have any information that she was married to someone else,” said Kelvin.

Navakholo Sub County Police Commander, Jacob Chelimo, confirmed the incident and described the officer as a cool person who also serves as their spiritual leader.

Mr Chelimo said they had assigned the officer a ceska pistol with seven rounds of ammunition to go and guard the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices but 30 minutes later, they had gunshots and rushed to the scene.

“Five rounds of ammunition out of the seven that were in the pistol were spent. We recovered the firearm and had two rounds of ammunition,” said Chelimo.

He dismissed claims that the police also shoot at locals and that he was not aware they had injured people.

The deceased's body was taken to Kakamega County Referral hospital mortuary.