Piece by: Cyrus Ombati

23 October 2022

• Witnesses and police said the assailant also shot and seriously injured a third officer in the shoulder as others who were present took cover.

• When constable Lawrence Kumber woke up Sunday October 23 at about 6 am nothing looked unusual.

In a Moyale Police Station yesterday, tragedy hit when a policeman shot and killed his two coworkers before turning the gun on himself.

When constable Lawrence Kumber woke up on Sunday, October 23, at about 6 am nothing looked unusual. His colleagues said he was supposed to report to work as they signed out.

Witnesses said instead, he met his colleague who was leaving duty and walking to his house within the station to pick up a document before returning his AK47 rifle.

Kumber picked up a stone and hit constable Noah Odero in the head flooring him before picking up his rifle.

The assailant then walked to the station armoury where he met the in-charge officer Corporal Francis Kokwe killing him on the spot.

He then turned the gun on another officer identified as Ezekiel Matete killing him at the entrance of the armoury.

Witnesses and police said the assailant also shot and seriously injured a third officer in the shoulder as others who were present took cover.

He then escaped from the armoury to his house where he locked himself therein and shot himself using the rifle.

His body was discovered in the house long after the incident had happened. The rifle lay next to the body.

The two injured officers were rushed to hospital where they were admitted in stable condition while the bodies were moved to the local sub county mortuary.

Eastern police boss Rono Bunei said they are yet to establish the motive of the incident.

“The weapon and other exhibits have been collected as we investigate this unfortunate incident. We are yet to establish the motive,” he said.

He said the officer had last week been blacklisted among those to be given guns for work.

“He had been denied a gun last week because of his behavior. He was blacklisted from being given a gun from the armoury.”

Elsewhere, a police officer was Saturday night killed in an accident along the Northern Bypass in Nairobi.

Constable Boniface Mugunda of DCI headquarters was riding on his motorcycle when he was hit by an unknown motorist. His Ceska pistol and other personal valuables were recovered.

Police said he was pronounced dead on arrival at the Kenyatta University Hospital and the car involved in the accident is yet to be known.

Counselors, medics, and psychologists advise that you can always reach out for help when experiencing any mental health issues. Call Kenya Red Cross toll-free hotline, 1199 for support.