Police in Nairobi are investigating a fatal shooting incident involving an officer who gunned down a man following a dispute over a pool game in Kawangware.
The victim, identified as 35-year-old Amos Lagat, was reportedly shot seven times at close range by the officer, who is said to be attached to a VIP in a top government office.
According to initial reports, the officer later presented himself at Muthangari Police Station, where he claimed he had been attacked by unknown individuals attempting to rob him of his firearm.
He alleged that he fired into the air while escaping, during which he fractured his leg. The officer then surrendered his Ceska pistol at the station before being taken to the hospital for treatment.
The firearm has since been taken for ballistic analysis as part of the ongoing investigation.
Eyewitness accounts paint a different picture of the events that transpired on the evening of Sunday, March 23. According to witnesses, the altercation occurred at a local joint in the Amboseli area after Lagat reportedly won a bet on a pool game.
What started as a disagreement quickly escalated into a violent confrontation, culminating in the officer drawing his weapon and fatally shooting Lagat. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Investigators have since visited the scene and recorded statements from witnesses, including the officer involved. “If there is an element of deception from any side, we will take further action. A life was lost, and we must ensure justice is served,” said an officer familiar with the probe.
Lagat’s family and friends have raised concerns over alleged interference in the investigation, with some fearing a possible cover-up. As of Monday, the officer had not yet been formally questioned, as he remained hospitalized.
