A routine night duty turned into a bloodbath at Esirabe Fertiliser Depot in Luanda, Vihiga County, after a police officer allegedly gunned down his colleague in the early hours of Friday, August 21.
The suspect, identified as Kevin Omondi, is on the run after allegedly shooting fellow officer Nicholas Samoei in the head at point-blank range. According to preliminary investigations, the fatal bullet tore through Samoei’s forehead and exited through the back of his skull, killing him instantly.
In a chilling twist, Omondi initially claimed that his colleague had taken his own life—before abruptly switching off his phone and vanishing from the scene. He left behind his firearm, a critical piece of evidence that investigators believe will shed light on what transpired.
Confirming the incident, Vihiga Sub-County Police Commander Richard Siele said the alarm was raised by locals who heard gunfire from the depot but had no idea of the carnage that had unfolded.
“Members of the public notified us after hearing gunshots. Upon investigation, we discovered that an officer had been shot in the forehead. We recovered two firearms belonging to both officers,” Siele stated.
The body of the deceased was taken to Vihiga County Referral Hospital mortuary, as detectives launch a nationwide manhunt for Omondi. Siele has appealed to the public to provide any information that could help track down the fugitive officer.
POLICE WELFARE UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
This gruesome incident adds to a growing list of cases where law enforcers have turned their weapons on colleagues or loved ones, raising concerns over the mental health crisis within the police service.
Just weeks ago, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen rolled out a policy directive aimed at tackling mental health issues among officers. The directive urged structured deployment based on temperament, mental assessments, and personal disposition to avert such tragedies.
Analysts warn that poor working conditions, inadequate counseling, and systemic neglect continue to push officers to the brink—sometimes with deadly consequences.
As the manhunt for Omondi intensifies, one thing remains clear: the police service is grappling with a deep-rooted crisis. How many more officers must die before reforms move from paper to practice?
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