In a shocking daylight attack, a police officer was shot dead by a suspected criminal in the Cravers area of Thika on Wednesday, June 18, prompting urgent calls for enhanced security measures from the local community.
The victim, a plainclothes constable with the Special Police Investigations Unit (SPIV), was conducting a routine inspection of motorcycles when the incident occurred. Eyewitness accounts and initial police reports indicate that the officer had flagged down a motorcyclist whose vehicle lacked the mandatory digital registration codes for boda boda operators.
During the interaction, after questioning the rider and confiscating the motorcycle’s ignition key, a confrontation erupted. The suspect, reportedly armed with a Ceska pistol, shot the officer in the neck before fleeing the scene.
Despite being rushed to Thika Nursing Home, the officer was pronounced dead upon arrival due to the critical nature of his injuries. Police later recovered a magazine believed to belong to the suspect at the scene, which had been dropped during his escape.
Witnesses reported that shortly after the shooting, the suspect hijacked another motorcycle from a rider with a passenger. Surveillance footage obtained by Kenyans.co.ke captured the suspect brandishing a firearm and forcing the victims to flee on foot before he escaped with the motorcycle. The hijacked bike was later abandoned, allowing the original rider to retrieve it.
As of Wednesday evening, there were no confirmed reports of the suspect’s arrest. Authorities have launched a manhunt and are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the officer’s death.
This incident highlights the ongoing concerns regarding police safety and public security in Kenya, especially amid growing scrutiny over police conduct and accountability.
