The family of police constable Raphael Ojiambo, who was shot dead during induction training at a camp in Kitui County, is demanding answers over the circumstances of his death, alleging that he had previously complained of harassment by a senior officer.
Ojiambo was killed on Sunday, October 25, at the Wikithuki Border Patrol Unit (BPU) Training Camp in Tseikuru, where he and other recently graduated officers were undergoing induction.
Police identified fellow constable Hussein Yussuf Ali as the suspect. Ali was arrested on Monday after instructors tracked him to a thorny thicket approximately three kilometres from the camp, according to a police follow-up report.
He was taken to Tseikuru Police Station as detectives investigated the shooting. Police have not publicly established a motive.
An initial incident report placed the shooting at around 3pm, with the matter reported to police at about 5.10pm.
Ojiambo suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, with the bullet reportedly lodging near his left shoulder.
Investigators recovered two G3 rifles from the scene, one issued to Ojiambo and the other assigned to Ali. The initial report stated that no spent cartridge cases were found.
Police also recovered two mobile phones at the camp, one reportedly damaged by a bullet, and another phone from the suspect. The devices are expected to undergo forensic examination.
Ojiambo’s relatives however say the events leading to his death raise questions that go beyond the shooting itself.
In an account provided by the family, relatives claim Ojiambo fell ill on Sunday morning and was excused from routine activities to rest in a tent.
They allege that other trainees later heard gunshots from the tent area and attempted to find out what had happened, but were directed by instructors to remain where they were.
According to the family, senior trainers went to the tents before returning to inform the trainees that Ojiambo had been shot dead.
The family’s account of the sequence of events has not been independently verified.
Relatives have also linked their concerns to an alleged dispute dating back to June, when Ojiambo was undergoing recruit training at the Administration Police facility in Embakasi, Nairobi.
They say the family was contacted over his relationship with a fellow recruit, whom they describe as the daughter of a senior officer. According to the relatives, the officer disapproved of the relationship, although the couple wanted to remain together.
The family alleges Ojiambo subsequently complained of intimidation and mistreatment. They claim he shared photographs and videos of injuries to his hands, which they attribute to an assault during training.
Those claims have not been independently substantiated, and no evidence has been made public linking the alleged earlier dispute to the fatal shooting.
“We have reasons to believe Raphael was targeted and killed,” the family said, calling for a thorough investigation.
Relatives have also questioned how live ammunition was handled at the camp and why investigators did not recover a spent cartridge case.
The available police reports do not establish whether Ojiambo was asleep when he was shot, who had access to live ammunition, or whether anyone other than the identified suspect played a role.
Ojiambo’s body was taken to Chiromo Hospital Mortuary in Nairobi for a postmortem examination. Its findings had not been confirmed in the reports available by Wednesday.
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