Police in Kwale County have launched investigations into a fatal shooting involving officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Police Service (KPS), which left one police officer dead, another injured, and the suspected shooter dead by suicide.
According to a police report released on Wednesday, two KPS officers Stanley Karithi and Aftin Farah Ali were riding a motorcycle from Nyango towards Kilibasi when they encountered two KWS rangers, John Ndichu and Eric Mugambi, also on a motorcycle. The rangers are attached to the Kilibasi KWS camp.
The incident occurred as the police officers had stopped a separate motorcycle ferrying charcoal, ridden by Salim Mwandoro. A disagreement reportedly arose when PC Karithi questioned Ranger Ndichu about two goats allegedly collected on behalf of the police officers during the festive season but never delivered.
Police say the confrontation escalated when Ranger Ndichu became hostile and opened fire with his rifle.
“He shot PC Stanley Karithi four times in the chest, killing him instantly. He then shot PC Aftin Farah Ali once in the right ribs, seriously injuring him,” the report stated. The injured officer was rushed to Voi Hospital for treatment.
Ndichu also shot Salim Mwandoro in the right ribs, leaving him seriously injured. Mwandoro was taken to Mariakani Hospital.
After the shootings, Ranger Ndichu turned the firearm on himself, shooting himself under the chin and dying at the scene.
Police processed the scene and transferred the bodies of the deceased officers to Voi Sub-County Hospital Mortuary, where post-mortem examinations are expected to be conducted. Two MK-7 rifles belonging to the KWS rangers were recovered and seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have not released further details as investigations continue.
