Cop fatally shoots colleague while on duty

Police in Meru County have opened probe into a case where an Administration Police officer went berserk shooting dead his colleague Monday, October 17 evening at the Gambela Police Station in Tigania East.

Police say that Silvester Kasongo died instantly after corporal Stephen Nthiga shot him in the chest three times using a G3 rifle at their Gambela AP camp.

Meru County Police Commander, Samson Kinne, said that Corporal Nthiga shot dead his colleague, although the reason for the act remains unclear.

Corporal Stephen was later arrested and disarmed and is being detained at Muthara police station in Tigania East as police investigate the matter.

The body of the slain officer was removed to Meru Level Five Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

Cases of police turning guns to their colleagues of loved ones have been on the rise in the country.

On July 14, 2016, Constable Abdihakim Maslam opened fire at his colleagues in Kapenguria as he tried to flee a terror suspect who was being held at the station.

Last week, an Administration Police officer attached to the elite Recce Squad shot his girlfriend 53 times at the Recce Headquarters in Ruiru before turning the gun to self.

The cases of police killing each other or friends have been linked to frustrations facing officers, especially junior officers, in the force.

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has on several occasions said that it was working with relevant authorities to find a lasting solution to reducing such case.

Written by Lucy Akinyi