A police officer in Uasin Gishu County is in custody after allegedly shooting and killing his girlfriend and another man in a suspected love triangle turned deadly.
The Friday night incident occurred at a wines and spirits shop in Jua Kali Trading Centre, Turbo Sub-County.
The officer, based at Tembelio Police Station in Moiben, is said to have skipped his night duty and traveled nearly 30 kilometers by motorbike to confront his girlfriend.
Upon arriving at the pub she operated, an argument reportedly broke out before the officer drew his AK-47 rifle and shot her twice at close range, killing her instantly.
According to Uasin Gishu Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi, the officer then turned the weapon on a male customer who was having a drink, shooting him twice in the head. He died on the spot.
Preliminary investigations suggest the officer was enraged after discovering his girlfriend with another man, despite allegedly helping her set up the liquor business with KSh 300,000 sent via M-Pesa.
The suspect was disarmed and arrested shortly after the incident. The murder weapon has been recovered and is expected to be presented in court as part of the evidence.
Police have withheld the identities of the deceased pending notification of their families.
Their bodies were moved to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary for preservation.
The constable is set to be arraigned in court on Monday to face murder charges.
The shocking incident has sparked fresh conversations around mental health and gun discipline within the police service.
