WAJIR, Kenya – A police officer is fighting for his life after he was shot and seriously injured during a brazen daytime attack at Diff Shopping Centre in Wajir County, in an incident authorities suspect was carried out by Al Shabaab militants.
The officer, identified as Police Constable Driver Tonny Githinji, was shot at close range by armed assailants at around 11:35am on Thursday while driving through Diff Township.
According to a police report, PC Githinji was attempting to make a U-turn while driving a Toyota Land Cruiser, registration GKB 022Y, when he was ambushed by two gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles.
The attackers reportedly opened fire, hitting the officer in the chest and mouth, with one bullet exiting through his mouth.
Investigators say the gunmen were part of a four-man gang believed to be linked to Al Shabaab, who were using a white Probox vehicle without number plates.
While two of the suspects carried out the shooting, the other two remained inside the getaway car.
After the attack, the assailants hijacked the police vehicle and fled the scene, driving towards Hambalash Road.
PC Githinji was rushed to the Diff Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Military Clinic, where he remains in critical condition.
Arrangements were underway to transfer him to the Wajir County Referral Hospital for specialised treatment.
Security forces have since sealed off the area, with officers from the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) launching joint patrols and search operations in an effort to track down the attackers and recover the stolen police vehicle.
The case is being handled by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and has been recorded as Pending Under Investigation (PUI).
The incident underscores persistent security concerns in parts of northern Kenya, where authorities continue to battle militant infiltration and cross-border attacks.
