Prison warder kills policeman, then turns gun on himself

A prison warder shot a policeman dead and then killed himself in a suspected love triangle at Mwea GK Prison staff quarters in Kirinyaga County.

The 9.30pm incident on Sunday left everyone in the prison shocked.

According to witnesses, the police officer, based in Kianyaga, went to the prison to visit his estranged wife and found the warder with her.

The enraged police officer then attacked the warder and a fight broke out.

One witness said the policeman found his estranged wife having supper with the warder, a sergeant at the prison.

They exchanged blows and the warder was overpowered.

It was then that the warder grabbed his Ceska pistol and shot the policeman twice in the head, killing him on the spot, and then turned the weapon on himself.

Efforts by the woman to save her former husband, with whom she had separated, were unsuccessful.

Following the incident, the policeman's wife dashed out and informed the prisons authorities and the matter was reported to Wang'uru Police Station.

The bodies of the two officers were taken to Mwea Mission Hospital mortuary.

Mwea East police boss Daniel Kavita said investigations had started.

Mr Kavita declined to release the names of the two as their next of kin had not been informed.

A sorrowful mood engulfed the prison as bodies of the two officers were removed.

Residents said gunshots were heard three kilometres away from the scene.

“I was at home when sounds of gunfire hit my ears. Moments later, I learnt two law enforcement officers had died in a fight," one of the residents, John Kangangi, said.

The officer in charge of the prison, identified only as a Mr Ruto, could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.