The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has confirmed the arrest and detention of two police officers following the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man in Mukuru kwa Njenga, Embakasi, Nairobi, on January 11, 2026.
The two officers were arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, January 12, where a judge granted IPOA’s request to detain them for 14 days to allow the completion of investigations into the incident.
According to IPOA, preliminary findings indicate that the shooting occurred at around 6:10 a.m. in Imara Daima during an encounter involving the deceased, his colleagues, and police officers.
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The authority stated that the deceased and two other individuals were in the process of delivering a motor vehicle to a client when they became involved in a traffic altercation with a matatu along their route.
Following the altercation, the matatu driver allegedly summoned fellow operators, forcing the three men to flee the scene and seek safety elsewhere.
The vehicle was reportedly parked near Mukuru Community Centre School, after which the three occupants began walking back toward the original accident scene.
On their way, the men were intercepted by two police officers who allegedly ordered them to lie on the ground.
During the incident, one of the officers is said to have opened fire, shooting the deceased in the head. The victim died on the spot due to the severity of the injuries.
In a statement, IPOA Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan said he supervised a post-mortem examination conducted on January 11, which concluded that the deceased died from a single penetrating gunshot wound to the head.
“The two police officers involved were arrested and arraigned before the Milimani Law Courts this morning. The court granted the Authority’s request for custodial orders and ruled that the suspects be detained for 14 days to allow for the completion of investigations,” the statement read.
IPOA further disclosed that it has collected critical material evidence to aid the probe, including police records, scene documentation, witness statements, and post-mortem findings.
Reaffirming its mandate, the authority urged members of the public to remain calm, assuring Kenyans that the investigation will be conducted independently, impartially, and in full accordance with the law as it seeks to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.