A police inspector in Thindigua, Kiambu County, is recovering in hospital after accidentally shooting himself while pursuing suspected thieves on Friday evening.
The officer, based at Thindigua Police Post, was chasing a gang accused of stealing a gate from a construction site when the mishap occurred. Police reported that while drawing his Ceska pistol, the officer accidentally discharged the firearm, injuring his left thigh.
He was rushed to hospital for surgery to remove the bullet. Despite the incident, police arrested the suspects and recovered the stolen gate. The suspects are expected in court on Monday.
Elsewhere, in Murang’a County, an officer was injured during a patrol in Gitugi, Mathioya, after falling into a ditch and hurting his hand.
In Kisii, authorities are probing a senior female officer who fired two shots into the air during a domestic dispute with her husband near Kisii University. She has since been questioned over the unlawful use of her firearm.
Meanwhile, in Marsabit County, a police truck was damaged during clashes with illegal miners at the Hillo gold site in Dabel, Moyale. A multi-agency security team had been deployed to evict miners operating illegally after the government shut down the site in March 2024 over safety concerns.
The miners hurled stones at police, smashing the windshield of a lorry, while officers fired in the air to disperse them. Authorities later confirmed the eviction was successful.
The Hillo mine, near the Kenya-Ethiopia border, has long attracted youths seeking income from gold scavenging, but officials say it has also become a hotspot for crime, including robbery and sexual violence. Despite its closure, illegal mining has continued, leading to accidents and deaths.
