Police officer in Nakuru bar shooting to face murder charges

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in a statement on Wednesday directed Police Constable, Nicholas Musyoka Musau to be charged with the murder of the two people on December 13, 2023.

He noted that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had gathered enough evidence against the suspect to prosecute the case.

“Having reviewed the inquiry file, the DPP is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to sustain a charge of murder. The DPP has therefore directed that the suspect be charged with two counts of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code today, 10th January 2024 at Nakuru High Court, Nakuru County,” read the statement.

The ODPP had directed IPOA to probe the incident and forward an inquiry file within two weeks.

In the incident which has since attracted public condemnation, PC Musau had an altercation with barmaids over unpaid debt at the local joint.

The suspect then opened fire killing Ms. Ann Maina on the spot and Ms. Laura Kwasira who succumbed to injuries a day later. Two others were injured.

Musau is alleged to have been in the company of other people before they dispersed, leaving him with the aforementioned bill.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome came out later to condemn the shooting incident involving the officer as they ordered a probe into the matter.

"If a police officer like the one here in Nakuru takes a gun and goes into a club, drinks, refuses to pay the bill and starts to kill people, we have no business with such kind of officers," Kindiki said.

"When someone has been brought the bill, but they have started killing people...we are not going to wait for IPOA, he must go to court," Koome added.