Prison warder arrested after threatening mass shooting in Kericho bar
By Nyaboga KiageA harrowing incident unfolded on the night of Saturday, December 16, 2023. Police in Kericho arrested a prison warder who had threatened to open fire inside a local bar, holding several patrons hostage.
The prison warder, assigned to Kericho Main Prison, reportedly created panic and chaos as he repeatedly threatened to shoot his girlfriend and others present in the bar.
According to the police report, the altercation began when the warder discovered his girlfriend in the company of another man.
Upon receiving the distress call, police rushed to the scene to find the warder holding people inside the bar hostage.
The accused prison warder explained to the police that he had a dispute with his girlfriend, who also worked at the bar, leading to the threatening incident.
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Contradicting the warder’s account, other witnesses in the bar denied the allegations of infidelity, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama.
The police report revealed that the prison warder left the bar after the disagreement, took a bodaboda to his residence in the Majengo Area, retrieved a G3 rifle, and returned to the bar armed, threatening to take the lives of those present.
Remarkably, the responding police officers managed to defuse the situation without resorting to force.
Through negotiation and reasoning, they convinced the prison warder to surrender peacefully.
He was subsequently taken into custody.
This disturbing incident comes on the heels of another shocking event just days prior, where Constable Nicholas Musau, attached to Nakuru Central Police Station, shot and killed a barmaid during a dispute over an unpaid bill.
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Constable Musau, who refused to settle a Sh16,000 bill, opened fire, injuring three others who attempted to intervene.
Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome condemned the Nakuru incident, emphasising the need for discipline among police officers.