A police inspector based at the Thindigua Police Post in Kiambu County is recuperating in hospital after accidentally shooting himself while pursuing suspected thieves on Friday evening.
According to a police report, the officer was responding to a theft incident involving a gang that had allegedly stolen a metal gate from a construction site in the area.
While drawing his Ceska pistol from his waistband during the chase, the officer reportedly mishandled the weapon, resulting in an accidental discharge that struck him in the left thigh.
Colleagues on the scene quickly responded and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was admitted in stable condition. Doctors are preparing to conduct surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his leg.
Despite the incident, fellow officers successfully apprehended the suspects and recovered the stolen goods. The suspects remain in custody and are expected to be arraigned in court on Monday to face theft-related charges.
This incident adds to a growing list of cases in Kenya involving accidental discharges of firearms by police officers—often linked to inadequate training, poor weapon handling, or high-pressure situations.
In 2022, a police officer in Nairobi’s Kayole area accidentally shot and injured a colleague while attempting to disperse a crowd during a nighttime operation.
Similarly, in 2021, an officer in Kisumu accidentally fired his weapon while cleaning it, injuring a civilian passerby. These and other similar cases have raised concerns about firearm safety protocols and the level of tactical preparedness among officers, especially in high-stress field situations.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and civil society groups have repeatedly called for better training in firearm handling and conflict management, as well as psychological evaluation for officers frequently deployed in volatile areas.
While police reforms have been ongoing, incidents like the one in Thindigua highlight the need for urgent review and reinforcement of standard operating procedures, particularly in how officers carry, maintain, and deploy their weapons.
