This archive report was first published on 11 May 2021.
On May 11, 2021, High Court judge Stella Mutuku delivered a ruling that would change the lives of two police officers, William Chirchir and Godfrey Kirui, forever. They had been accused of shooting and killing businesswoman Janet Waiyaki at City Park in 2018.
According to the judge's ruling, the constables shot with the aim of killing the victims, acting recklessly and using force contrary to the law. There was no shooting from inside the vehicle, and the officers' actions were deemed to be a gross misuse of their authority.
Janet Waiyaki was in the company of her nephew Benard Chege in a car at the park when the officers shot at them. The deceased was the wife of city businessman George Kirubi, and the case drew widespread criticism on the police service over the handling of the situation.
During the court case, the judge heard that the two officers fired several bullets at the car from their AK47 rifles, killing Janet Waiyaki and injuring Chege. Questions were raised as to why the officers were patrolling in Parklands, an area that was not under their jurisdiction.
"They acted recklessly and shot at the aim of killing. There was no shooting from inside the vehicle. By using the firearms to stop the car, they used force and acted contrary to the law," Justice Mutuku ruled.
