Kericho DCIO Charles Mugambi shot dead in mysterious circumstances

The Subaru car that Kericho DCIO Charles Mugambi was using when he was shot and killed under unclear circumstances on June 16, 2016. Two junior officers who were with him have been arrested. PHOTO | TIMOTHY KEMEI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Mugambi has been in Kericho for about three months having been transferred from Kinangop.
  • The detective was shot dead in Pala at the border of Kericho and Kisumu counties.
  • Mr Nyange said residents of Kipsitet alerted the police when they heard gunshots.
  • He said the weapon suspected to have been used to commit the murder was recovered.

Kericho Deputy Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO) Charles Mugambi was early Thursday shot and killed in cold blood under mysterious circumstances.

The detective was shot dead in Pala at the border of Kericho and Kisumu counties.

Two junior detectives who were with him at around 2am when the incident happened were arrested.

Mr Mugambi has been in Kericho for about three months having been transferred from Kinangop.

Kericho County Police Commander Adiel Nyange Thursday issued a statement on the murder but declined to give details of the incident, only saying that the matter was still under investigations and that a more detailed update would be issued once the investigations were complete.

“Investigations have been launched to establish what exactly happened. The two officers who were in the vehicle at the time the shooting occurred are in custody and are helping with investigations,” he said.

Mr Nyange said residents of Kipsitet alerted the police when they heard gunshots.

POLICE RUSH TO SCENE

Police officers rushed to the scene only to discover that the vehicle involved belonged to the police service and was attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

The police chief said the deceased was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Siloam Hospital in Kericho Town where the officers had rushed him.

The navy blue Subaru Outback saloon car which the three officers were using when the shooting happened had at least six bullet holes.

The driver’s seat was stained with blood, indicating that the deceased could have been driving the vehicle at the time he was shot dead.

Initial reports indicated that Mr Mugambi was travelling back to Kericho from Kisumu when he was murdered but Mr Nyange insisted that the three officers were on an ordinary patrol along the Kericho-Kisumu highway.

Mr Nyange said the weapon suspected to have been used to commit the murder was recovered and would be handed over to ballistic experts for analysis.