Police officer breaks down in court as he defends colleagues accused of killing suspected robber
Senior Superintendent of Police Dennis Omunga broke down in court as he recounted the dangers officers face daily in Kayole, revealing how 13 of his colleagues lost their lives to armed criminals while he defended six officers accused of killing a suspected robber.
An emotional moment unfolded at Milimani High Court on Wednesday when a senior police officer broke down while giving evidence in a murder case against six officers accused of killing a suspected criminal in Kayole, Nairobi.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dennis Omunga, who previously served as Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Kayole Police Station, struggled to hold back tears as he described the dangers faced by officers under his command.
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Now an instructor at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo, Omunga said he lost 13 officers to armed criminals during his tenure at the volatile post.
He told the court that the area was notorious for violent robberies and that his officers constantly risked their lives to protect residents.
IPOA's lack of concern
He criticised the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for what he described as its lack of concern for officers killed on duty, accusing the agency of being quick to condemn police actions without understanding the risks they face.
Recounting the incident that led to the case, Omunga said he received a distress call over the police radio about armed robbers attacking members of the public near Kayole Junction. He immediately dispatched six officers to respond.
"When they arrived, the officers ordered the suspects to surrender, but the gunmen opened fire," Omunga said. "The officers fired back, killing one suspect, while two others escaped on a motorcycle, shooting in the air."
Homemade gun
He told the court that a homemade gun, several rounds of ammunition, and a national identity card were recovered from the deceased suspect, Wickliffe Vincent Owuor, and handed over to detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Omunga further testified that IPOA officials later visited his office with a senior lawyer who had already declared on social media that the shooting amounted to murder. He accused IPOA of bias, claiming investigators had already prejudged the matter before completing their inquiries.
He defended the six accused officers, insisting they acted lawfully and professionally in response to an active robbery situation. Omunga also revealed that he later learned Owuor had been linked to a KSh 76 million armed robbery in Westlands before his death.
The hearing continues.
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