Police officer arrested after attacking colleague, aiding suspect escape

A police officer attached to Kamukunji Police Station was on Tuesday arrested after allegedly shooting at a colleague and aiding a suspect to escape.

The accused, Police Constable Abel Musati, is reported to have accosted Hillary Korir, a traffic police officer, while on duty at the Kariokor roundabout.

According to the police report, Mr. Korir – on Tuesday evening while on duty on General Waruinge road near Starehe Boys Center – detected a traffic violation and arrested one driver for driving without a licence.

Korir then reportedly got into the vehicle and ordered the driver to head to Pangani Police Station for further interrogation.

On the way to the station, the report added, the driver called someone whom he claimed to be the owner of the motor vehicle but, as soon as they got to the Kariakor roundabout, they were stopped by Constable Musati who was armed with an AK 47 assault rifle and claimed to be the vehicle owner.

Constable Musati then allegedly ordered the traffic officer to get out of the motor vehicle, asserting that his vehicle will not be detained.

Korir requested that the matter be sorted out at the police station but Musati forcefully pulled him out of the vehicle and ordered the driver to drive off.

Musati is then alleged to have opened fire in an attempt to shoot Korir and in the process fired one round of 7.62mm special ammunition which however missed his target (Korir).

Confirming the incident, Nairobi Police Boss Phillip Ndolo said the suspect was disarmed and later arrested, adding that efforts to trace the driver are still underway.

Detectives from Stapol Pangani and Directorate of Criminal Investigations visited the scene and recovered one spent cartridge.

The suspect is presently in police custody awaiting to be arraigned in court.