Court grants police seven days to detain officer who killed colleague

A court has allowed police to detain for seven days a police officer who allegedly shot and killed a colleague in Nairobi.

Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina ruled on Tuesday that Ezekiel Kipkoech, who is attached to VIP protection, be detained at Ruaraka police station.

This is after police presented him in court under a miscellaneous application where they sought to be given 14 days to detain him.

Kipkoech is said to have shot and killed a police officer Raphael Wambua, who, until the time of his demise, was attached to Central Bank of Kenya.

According to an affidavit sworn by the investigating officer Suleiman Mwakajiri, police sought to detain the suspect as they carry more investigations.

"We are also seeking orders to have the respondent taken to Mama Lucy hospital in Nairobi for mental assessment," Mwakajiri's affidavit adds in part.

The investigating officer, in his affidavit that was presented in court, said that the deceased was on the night of the incident, in the company of his brother who is a police officer attached to General Service Unit  (GSU). 

He said that the two had gone out to watch a soccer match and had drinks at Wasafi bar within Naivas area, Ruaraka, where they stayed up to 1:20 am before the suspect shot his colleague.

"As they left and were walking home, it's alleged that they were attacked by the suspect who is also a police officer attached to VIP protection. It's suspected that the accused fatally shot the deceased using his firearm, a Jericho pistol make," the investigating officer adds in the affidavit.

He said that the incident was reported at Ruaraka police station, where the accused was subjected to mob justice by members of the public and was rescued by officers from the station.

The accused, according to the investigating officer, was admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital ( KNH)  under police guard, where he was treated and discharged on February 28.

After the discharge, he was held in custody at Ruaraka police station until Wednesday, when he was presented in court

On why police wanted to hold him for 14 days before charging him officially, the investigating officer said that there were some pending issues regarding investigations that had not been completed among them, a comprehensive statement had not been taken from the accused and other suspects that may be available.

"Key witnesses during the incident have not yet recorded their statements. The firearm and rounds of ammunition used by the accused has not been taken to DCI headquarters for ballistic examination," said the investigating officer. 

His lawyer, Wambui Shadrack had opposed the 14 days detention that police had applied to hold him.