The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched investigations after a police officer allegedly shot dead a 22-year-old student in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County.
In a statement released on Tuesday, October 28, IPOA announced it is progressing investigations into the fatal shooting of Dalphine Mwangi, a student at Kitale National Polytechnic, on October 21, 2025.
According to the authority, the incident allegedly involved Police Constable David Omondi, an officer attached to Kitale Police Station. IPOA was notified of the shooting by the National Police Service on October 22, 2025.
The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was initially taken to Kijana Wamalwa Hospital before being transferred to Top Hill Hospital in Eldoret, where he succumbed to his injuries on October 24, 2025.
Following preliminary inquiries, the police officer attached to Kitale Police Station was arrested, presented before the court, and detained at Kiminini Police Station pending the completion of IPOA’s investigations.
The authority has made notable progress in the investigation, including recording statements from witnesses and police officers, collecting relevant official and documentary evidence, and securing a 10-day custodial order for the suspect officer to facilitate investigations.
IPOA has also attended the post-mortem examination conducted on October 25, 2025, and visited the crime scene to collect forensic evidence.
“Lastly, the Authority wishes to make a passionate appeal to members of the public to remain calm as investigations progress, assuring all of fast-tracked attention on the matter,” IPOA stated.
The incident occurred in the early hours of October 22, 2025, at Norec Shopping Centre in the Kibomet area, where the victim and his colleagues were playing pool.
According to police reports, the student and a man later identified as a police officer got into an argument before the suspect allegedly drew his firearm and shot the student at close range.
The student was initially rushed to Kijana Wamalwa Referral Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the stomach. He was later transferred to Top Hill Hospital in Eldoret for further treatment.
On October 24, 2025, the police officer was arraigned at the magistrate’s court in Kitale. An investigating officer from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority successfully made a miscellaneous application to hold him for ten days.
Witnesses identified the suspect during an identification parade conducted at Kitale Police Station on October 24. The witnesses reportedly recognized him as the person who shot the student.
Later on the same day, October 25, 2025, Mwangi succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Top Hill Hospital in Eldoret. Following his death, the case was upgraded from attempted murder to murder, police confirmed.
