Wamuzi News Ke
A Nairobi court has ordered the detention of three police officers linked to the fatal shooting of a hawker in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD). The officers, who were arrested in connection with the daylight killing of Bernard Otieno Omwenga, will now remain in custody for 15 days as investigations into the chilling incident continue.
The court’s decision follows a heated plea by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which sought to have the officers held longer to allow a thorough probe. IPOA cited concerns over potential interference with witnesses and evidence, especially given the officers’ position within the police service.
The shooting, which happened in broad daylight along Nairobi’s Mfangano Street, has sparked national outrage, with Kenyans demanding justice and a crackdown on police brutality. Eyewitnesses claim that Otieno was unarmed and attempting to flee when he was gunned down in cold blood.
The killing has reignited long-standing tensions between law enforcement and civilians, especially in the wake of recent demonstrations against excessive use of force by police.
The officers, who appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul on Wednesday, were escorted under tight security, with angry members of the public gathered outside the court demanding accountability.
The judge granted IPOA’s request, stating that the gravity of the matter justified extended detention.Human rights groups and civil society organizations have condemned the killing and are closely monitoring the developments.
“This is not an isolated case. It is part of a disturbing pattern of extrajudicial killings that must be addressed urgently,” said a spokesperson from the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken over the case and assured the public of a comprehensive and impartial inquiry.
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has called for swift justice, describing Otieno as a humble trader who was only trying to earn a living.
As the country reels from the shock of yet another case of alleged police misconduct, pressure is mounting on the government and security agencies to institute reforms and ensure officers involved in unlawful killings face the full force of the law.
With public confidence in the police at an all-time low, this case may become a defining moment in Kenya’s long-standing struggle against police impunity.
The coming days will reveal whether justice will truly be served—or if this will be yet another name added to a growing list of victims failed by the system.
