Police Constable arrested over fatal shooting of 45-year-old woman in Eldoret

The arrest of a police constable has brought a new turn to investigations into the shooting that left a 45-year-old woman dead at a GSU mess compound near the Eldoret State Lodge.

Constable Nathan Kirwa was taken into custody on Monday after being traced to the outskirts of Eldoret town, two days after Doris Murei was fatally shot on Sunday evening.

Police said Kirwa had gone into hiding shortly after the incident, prompting officers to launch a search for him.Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Wilberforce Sicharani confirmed that Kirwa had been arrested and that the firearm suspected to have been used in the shooting had also been recovered.

Investigators are expected to examine the weapon as they piece together the events that led to Murei’s death.

Sicharani said preliminary information showed that Kirwa allegedly fired at least five shots at Murei, who died at the scene.

The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain under investigation, with police yet to establish the exact motive behind the shooting.

Early findings have pointed to a possible romantic relationship between Kirwa and Murei that may have deteriorated before the incident. However, police have not made a final determination on whether the relationship was directly linked to the shooting.

The constable’s disappearance after the incident added another dimension to the investigation, with officers working to establish his movements before his eventual arrest.

His detention is expected to give detectives an opportunity to question him about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The recovered firearm will also be an important part of the investigation as officers seek to establish whether it was the weapon used to fire the shots that killed Murei.

Kirwa is expected to be arraigned at the Eldoret Law Courts on Tuesday. The court proceedings will provide the prosecution with an opportunity to present the allegations against him, while the court will determine the appropriate legal steps as the case progresses.

There are also reports that Kirwa was attached to the security detail of the Uasin Gishu Governor. However, police have not officially confirmed the claim.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding Murei’s death are continuing, with officers expected to gather more evidence and record statements from people who may have information about the incident.