A Milimani magistrate’s court has granted the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) 14 days to detain two police officers suspected of fatally shooting a man in Nairobi’s Mukuru Kwa Njenga area, pending the completion of investigations.
The two officers — Sergeant Godwin Mjomba and Administration Police Constable Patrick Mutunga Titus — were arraigned before Trial Magistrate Caroline Mugo after IPOA sought orders to have them detained for 21 days.
The authority argued that additional time was needed to conclude investigations into the death of Shukri Adan Ibrahim Issaka.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mugo partially allowed the application, ordering that the officers be held at Capitol Hill Police Station for 14 days instead of the 21 days sought.
The officers are under investigation over the fatal shooting of Issaka, which allegedly occurred on January 11, 2026, at about 6.10am near the MCC area, within the Villa Police Station jurisdiction.
According to IPOA, preliminary investigations indicate that Issaka was shot while lying on the ground after the officers ordered him and two other men to surrender following a road accident involving a private vehicle and a matatu.
IPOA told the court that Issaka sustained a single gunshot wound to the head, with the bullet entering through the ear and exiting at the back of the head. A post-mortem conducted later the same day confirmed the cause of death as head injury due to a penetrating gunshot wound.
The authority further alleged that there were attempts to cover up the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the filing of a misleading police signal, raising concerns about possible interference with investigations.
IPOA also said the officers’ mobile phones had been seized and were yet to undergo forensic examination, which investigators believe could yield crucial evidence.
The court heard that the incident had sparked public outrage and sporadic demonstrations, raising concerns about the safety of the officers should they be released on bail at this stage.
In granting the 14-day detention, Magistrate Mugo cited the complexity of the investigations, the need to record additional witness statements, and the risk of interference with witnesses, particularly officers stationed at Villa Police Station.
“The period granted should be sufficient for the applicant to progress investigations while balancing the constitutional rights of the respondents,” she ruled.
The case will be mentioned on January 26.
