Accidental gun discharge at a Bungoma court leave five hospitalised
Five people have been hospitalised at the Bungoma County Referral Hospital after a firearm belonging to an officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) accidentally discharged during court proceedings at the Bungoma Law Courts.
Confirming the incident, the Judiciary indicated that the unfortunate accident happened during the morning hours during the hearing of a criminal matter in the High Court, resulting in injuries to the DCI officer, a Kenya Prisons Officer, and three civilians.
In their statement, the Judiciary confirmed that the firearm belonging to the DCI officer accidentally discharged a bullet during the court session, causing injuries to multiple individuals present in the courtroom.
“At 10:50am, during the hearing of a criminal matter in the High Court, a DCI officer’s firearm accidentally discharged a bullet, injuring him, a Kenya Prison’s Officer, and three civilians,” the statement read in part.
The five were immediately rushed to the Bungoma Referral Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.
The Judiciary has reported that they are all in stable condition, with no serious injuries or fatalities reported from the incident.
Further, the Judiciary has assured the public that all court officials and members of the public at the court are safe, emphasizing that there is no need for alarm following the accidental discharge.
A team of security officers have been dispatched to the scene and are conducting a thorough assessment of the situation to determine the circumstances that led to the accidental firing of the weapon.
The incident comes a week after a DCI Officer was last week arrested in Makongeni for allegedly shooting and killing two motorcycle taxi operators in Makongeni, Thika West Sub-County.
The officer identified as Eric G. N., attached to the DCI headquarters is suspected of shooting fatal shooting thirty-eight year-old Kennedy Ojuma and 39-year-old Stephen Mwendwa Maweu during a confrontation near Makongeni Police Station.
The incident began after a minor traffic accident between the officer’s black Audi and a motorcycle operated by Hezron Kariuki Ireri.
According to police reports, Constable Eric appeared intoxicated and armed, resisting attempts by traffic officers to disarm him before firing his weapon and fatally wounding the two boda boda riders.
The officer was eventually overpowered, arrested, and disarmed, with his service firearm containing 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition recovered as evidence.
The shooting sparked outrage among residents and motorcycle taxi operators, who destroyed and set fire to the officer’s vehicle in protest.
