JUJA, Kenya — A senior police officer attached to the National Police Service (NPS) Airwing has been found dead inside a house in Juja, Kiambu County, with police launching investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.
The body of Chief Inspector Michael Waiganjo Kabere was discovered on Thursday evening at a residence in the Malaba ODM area of Witeithie after police responded to reports of a body found inside the house.
According to police, officers arrived at the scene and found both the compound gate and the main entrance to the house open. Upon entering the residence, they discovered the officer lying on his back on a bed with blood oozing from his mouth and nose.
A search of the house led to the recovery of a wallet containing a Certificate of Appointment bearing the details of Chief Inspector Michael Waiganjo Kabere, confirming his identity.
Police said the body had no visible external injuries.
Crime scene investigators documented and processed the scene before the body was transferred to the Kenyatta University Referral Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is expected to determine the cause of death.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Suspected robber shot dead in Maragua rescue operation
In a separate incident, a suspected robber was shot dead during a police rescue operation after a man was allegedly held hostage and robbed by armed assailants in Maragua, Murang’a County.
Police said the incident occurred at about 11:50 p.m. on Thursday in the Mutaro area, where three armed men allegedly accosted Vincent Ogongo Abuya in a maize plantation.
Officers from Maragua Police Station, including the duty team and Crime Aid personnel, responded after receiving reports that the victim was being held hostage and robbed.
According to police, the officers encountered three suspects armed with machetes and ordered them to surrender.
Police said one of the suspects allegedly advanced towards a female officer while wielding a machete in an attempt to attack her.
The officer reportedly fired two rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition from an AK-47 rifle in self-defence, fatally injuring the suspect. The other two suspects escaped into nearby bushes.
Police recovered an Oppo R12 mobile phone believed to have been stolen from the victim, two Type-C phone chargers, a machete and a button mobile phone suspected to belong to the deceased.
The body of the unidentified suspect was moved to Murang’a Level Five Hospital Mortuary pending identification and a post-mortem examination.
Police have launched a manhunt for the two suspects who escaped during the operation.