Staff at a hospital in Njoro, Nakuru County, were left in shock a police officer walked into the facility and shot dead his girlfriend who had gone to seek treatment after a fight.
The incident took place on Sunday, August 22, in Njoro sub-county.
The officer whom colleagues have identified as Bernard Sivo, reportedly followed his girlfriend Mary Nyambura to the hospital moments after assaulting and breaking her leg at home – and shot her.
“Mary Nyambura, 29, visited the hospital with a fracture on her right leg complaining that he had been assaulted by his boyfriend. While being treated an officer while armed entered the hospital and shot the patient severally,” a police statement read.
“The officer No. 254346 PC Benard Sivo, adult aged 28yrs who had just taken over third shift cell sentry duties at the station excused himself to make a call outside the report office with his AK 47 rifle S/NO. 4912292 with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special and pursued the girlfriend to the hospital, shot her and she died on the spot,” read the police report.
Officer Sivo is said to have returned to the station immediately after shooting Wanjiru on the arm, wrist and back.
Officers at the station said that Sivo began firing his gun wildly while at the station – something that endangered the lives of other officers.
He reportedly shot himself in the chin before the officers could disarm him – killing himself.
An AK 47 rifle S/NO. 4912292 was recovered from the scene with a magazine of 11 rounds of 7.62mm special.
The incident comes at a time when there have been rising cases of killings involving the police.
A recent survey confirmed that Kenyan police are stressed and highlighted the existence, symptoms and causes of occupational stress among officers.
The Kenya police service has since made efforts to improve working environment for especially junior police officers.