A routine police patrol in Nairobi’s Kamukunji area turned violent after a police officer was attacked with a panga, prompting a fellow officer to fatally shoot the suspected assailant.
The incident occurred at around 8:30 p.m. on Monday along Racecourse Road, where officers on patrol were confronted by an unidentified man armed with a panga.
According to police, the suspect suddenly attacked one of the officers, inflicting multiple deep cuts to the back of his head.
A fellow officer responded by opening fire, killing the attacker and preventing further harm. Police later revealed that the officer’s firearm had accidentally been set to automatic mode instead of single-shot, resulting in the discharge of 11 rounds of 7.62×39mm ammunition during the confrontation.
The injured officer was rushed to a nearby clinic for first aid before being transferred to Nairobi West Hospital, where he was admitted in fair condition.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud confirmed that the officer is stable and recovering.
Crime scene investigators and senior police officers processed the scene, recovering a blood-stained panga believed to have been used in the attack.
The body of the unidentified suspect was taken to the Nairobi City Mortuary pending identification and a post-mortem examination.
Police have launched investigations to establish the motive behind the attack and the circumstances that led to the violent confrontation.
