An Eldoret court is set to rule on a prosecution request to detain a police officer accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend and another man for 14 more days, pending the conclusion of investigations.
On Monday, prosecution counsel Eric Kiama told Senior Principal Magistrate Mogire Onkoba that detectives require additional time to complete investigations into the June 26 incident, in which police constable Eric Kirui allegedly killed Caroline Malakwen and Ignatius Kipchumba at Kokwet Club in Jua Kali, Uasin Gishu County.
Kirui, who is attached to Tembelio Police Station in Moiben sub-county, is accused of using his official AK-47 rifle to carry out the fatal shootings at the club, which was reportedly owned by Malakwen.
Kiama said the prosecution intends to charge Kirui with two counts of murder under Section 204 of the Penal Code once investigations are finalized. He cited several pending procedures, including ballistic analysis of the murder weapon at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi, delayed postmortem reports, and unrecorded witness statements.
“These are critical components in establishing a watertight case,” Kiama said, arguing that releasing the suspect prematurely could interfere with evidence collection and witness cooperation.
However, Kirui’s lawyer, Stephen Ombego, opposed the application, insisting his client’s constitutional rights must be upheld. He argued that Kirui is entitled to bond and that continued detention without formal charges amounts to unlawful incarceration.
The court is expected to deliver its ruling on the detention request in the coming days.
Written By Rodney Mbua
