This archive report was first published on 10 January 2020.
On Thursday evening, a tragic incident unfolded at a police post in Meru County, Kenya, leaving a civilian dead and a police officer with a fatal gunshot wound.
The incident began at Kunati market in Tigania Central, where a resident named Julius Mwenda engaged in a fist fight with a police officer identified as Murithi.
Mr. Mwenda later reported the matter at the Kunati police post, but was shot dead while filing the report, according to Meru Police Commander Patrick Lumumba.
"He was reporting the incident at the OB desk when the police officer appeared and shot him. He was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival," Commander Lumumba said.
Commander Lumumba further stated that Murithi was found dead early Friday morning, and it appeared he had shot himself.
"We are investigating [the incident]. We assure the public that the police service is committed to ensuring their security and a good working relationship with police," he said.
Mr. Mwenda's brother, James Kiunga, reported that his brother had a fight with the police officer at a bar and was arrested, but the officer pursued them, took a gun, and shot him at the OB desk.
"We are yet to know what they were fighting about," Mr. Kiunga said.
Other residents corroborated the account, stating that the policeman was an alcoholic who often engaged in conflicts with residents.
