A police officer has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a student at Machakos University on Monday, December 5, 2022.
Police Corporal Michael Mulwa is suspected to have shot and seriously injured Brilliant Anusu during demonstrations staged by students at the Machakos-based university to protest against increasing cases of insecurity.
"The student who is currently fighting for his life at the Machakos level 5 hospital, is suspected to have been part of a group of students that had engaged police officers in running battles for the better part of the day," the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said in a statement on Tuesday, December 6.
Protests erupted at the varsity after one of the students attacked recently by thugs succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
DCI confirmed that investigations are ongoing to nail other officers believed to have misused their guns during the operation to quell the riots.
The directorate said nine firearms have been seized from the officers for ballistic examination.
"A total of 9 firearms including 5 pistols, 3 G-3riffles and one AK-47 assault rifles have also been seized from different police officers and they will be subjected to forensic ballistic analysis at the DCI National Forensic Laboratory, to scientifically ascertain which firearms were misused when quelling the riotous students," DCI added.
The arrest of the officer comes hours after another police officer identified as Constable Kevin Sila was cornered in a robbery incident in the area and placed behind bars.
According to the DCI, the officer in plainclothes had together with an accomplice identified as David Muringu attacked two students as they headed to their rented quarters in the wee hours of Monday morning.
The two suspects beat the students before getting away with a mobile phone belonging to one of the students.
The police officer is facing robbery with violence charges.
Last Friday, 14 robbery with violence suspects linked to the spate of robberies mostly targeting university students living outside the campus were arrested and placed behind bars.
The DCI now urges the students to remain calm as the police work around the clock to bring normalcy to the area.
"The Directorate of Criminal Investigations appeals to the Machakos University students and their student leaders to remain calm as detectives expedite investigations into the security incidents and bring all the suspects to book," DCI added.
