ELDORET, Kenya — A police officer accused of fatally shooting a 22-year-old student was on Tuesday charged with murder before the Eldoret High Court, in a case that has sparked outrage over police conduct and use of excessive force.
The officer, identified as David Omondi, is accused of shooting Dolphine Mwangi, a student at Kitale National Polytechnic, on October 21, 2025, at Naree Trading Centre in Kiminini Sub-County, Trans Nzoia County.
According to court records, Omondi arrived at the trading centre on a motorcycle armed with a pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition.
Upon encountering a group of students, he allegedly questioned them about their presence in the area at night. When they failed to respond, Omondi is said to have opened fire, discharging three bullets — one of which struck Mwangi in the head.
A Good Samaritan reportedly rushed the victim to the hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment.
When arraigned before Justice Reuben Nyakundi, the accused officer denied the murder charge. The court has scheduled a mention on November 27, 2025, to determine whether Omondi will be released on bail pending trial.
The prosecution told the court that investigations had established the officer’s firearm had been used in the incident. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) directed that Omondi be charged after forensic analysis matched the bullet retrieved from the victim to his service weapon.
The case has reignited public concern about police accountability and the use of firearms against unarmed civilians. Rights groups have in recent months called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to expedite investigations into incidents of police brutality and ensure victims receive justice.
IPOA data shows that over 180 cases of fatal police shootings are under active investigation across the country, with many involving young people.
Justice Nyakundi ordered that Omondi be remanded at the Eldoret GK Prison until the bail ruling, even as the victim’s family called for a speedy trial.
