Police officer shot dead by colleague under mysterious circumstances in Kitui

The National Police Service (NPS) is now under scrutiny following the death of police officer Raphael Ojiambo Smart, who was killed under mysterious circumstances in Kitui County at the Tseikuru Police Training Camp.

The suspected shooter, now identified as fellow police officer Ali Yusuf, is a wanted man after fleeing the scene, where two G3 rifles were also recovered.

Smart, just weeks after graduating, was shot, with the bullet penetrating his chest and lodging near his shoulder.

Benard Midia, a pathologist, said: “The deceased died of a single penetrating gunshot wound to the chest. The wound went through to the collarbone and punctured the upper part of the lungs.”

The alleged suspect is his fellow officer, who graduated alongside him, Hussein Yusuf Ali. He fled immediately after the incident.

Franklin Tanganyika, the deceased's relative, said: “Kuna mambo mingi yenye hatujaelewa…kuna video ingine yenye hatujaona akiwa amekatwakatwa mkono so hatuelewi kama alikuwa ameteswa. And then ameshootiwa (kwa kifua) na kwa mkono yake bado amekatwa na si scratch, ni kitu inatoa damu kabisa…kama umeshootiwa (kwa kifua) sijui kwa nini ukuwe na kidonda huku (kwa mkono).”

The deceased's aunt added: “Tuliambiwa ni charger so sijui vile mnaweza ulizana charger mpaka watu wauane, unless kulikuwa na story nyengine behind. Kidogo kidogo tukakuja kuskia jamaa alikuwa anapiga simu video call huyu mwengine akapiga risasi ikapita…mwenye ana ukweli ni marehemu na mwenye kumpiga.”

Two G3 rifles were recovered, but no spent bullet casing was found at the scene, raising questions about how the crime scene was handled.

Pathologist Midia added: “Bullet fragments were retrieved on the backside of the chest, and these have been submitted for ballistic investigations."

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is now handling the witnesses and evidence.

One of the theories being investigated is that the suspect deliberately targeted the phone Ojiambo was using to record a video.  The bullet penetrated the device before striking him in the chest.

Investigators are now left with one option: to attempt to access the damaged phone and recover the video recorded just minutes before the bullet penetrated it.

“This is unlikely to have been a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It is unlikely to have been a suicidal attempt, and we have taken specimens and samples to investigate further and probably rule out a suicidal attempt,” Pathologist Midia noted.

For now, the family is demanding justice as the suspect remains at large.