Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has confirmed that a police officer who fatally shot a 22-year-old taxi driver at a roadblock is currently on the run.
Responding to a query from Garissa Senator Abdulkadir Haji, Murkomen said the suspect had been positively identified by fellow officers.
He added that detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have launched a manhunt to track him down.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen confirms the officer who killed the taxi driver is on the run. Photo: Courtesy.
The Interior CS expressed regret over the incident and assured the victim’s family that efforts were underway to ensure justice is served, describing the killing as a deeply unfortunate occurrence.
Murkomen noted that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had been brought into the investigation, with assurances of full cooperation from the police.
He highlighted that once the suspect is apprehended, due legal process will follow, including arraignment in court.
Meanwhile, residents staged protests in the area following the killing of the young taxi driver, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the officer involved.
Garissa Woman Representative Amina Udgoon also raised concerns over alleged police brutality in the region, warning that continued incidents risk straining relations between the public and the government.
Witnesses say the 22-year-old taxi driver posed no threat at the time of the shooting, as he was reportedly in handcuffs when the officer opened fire at close range.
Preliminary findings indicate a brief altercation before the officer discharged his weapon, fatally shooting the victim.
