Shock in Kwale After Armed KWS Ranger Kills Police Officer, Injures Two in Violent Incident

By Robai Ludenyi

Police officers in Kwale County are investigating a murder incident in which a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) ranger shot and killed a Kenya Police Service (KPS) officer, injured another, and later turned the gun on himself.

According to a police report issued on Wednesday, two KPS officersPC Stanley Karithi and PC Aftin Farah Aliwere riding a motorcycle from Nyango towards Kilibasi when they encountered two KWS rangers, John Ndichu and Eric Mugambi, who were also on a motorcycle. The two rangers were attached to the Kilibasi KWS camp.

At the time of the incident, the KPS officers had stopped a motorcycle ferrying charcoal, which was being ridden by Salim Mwandoro. A disagreement reportedly arose after PC Karithi questioned Ranger Ndichu over two goats allegedly collected on behalf of the KPS officers during the festive season but never delivered.

Police say Ranger Ndichu became hostile and opened fire using his rifle. He shot PC Karithi four times in the chest, killing him on the spot, and then shot PC Ali once in the right ribs, seriously injuring him. PC Ali was rushed to Voi Hospital for treatment.

The ranger also shot Salim Mwandoro in the right ribs, seriously injuring him. Mwandoro was taken to Mariakani Hospital for treatment. After the shooting, Ranger Ndichu shot himself under the chin and died immediately at the scene were all the tragedy had happened

The scene was processed by police, and the bodies were taken to Voi Sub-County Hospital Mortuary for post-mortem examinations as the investigation proceeds.

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