Constable Jackson Kipkoech Kong’a faces a lengthy jail term after being found guilty of murdering his superior.
A Nakuru police officer who admitted to acting out of anger when he attacked and killed his boss two years ago has been convicted.
Constable Jackson Kipkoech Kong’a, who was based at the K9 Unit in the Dog Section in Nakuru City, now faces a lengthy jail term after being found guilty of murdering his superior, Senior Sergeant Christopher Kimeli, whom he claimed had insulted him.
On the morning of August 8, 2023, Kong’a, who had been assigned sentry duties at the Dog Section station gate, received four suspects from officers on patrol.
At around 4am, Mr Kimeli appeared for his routine inspection and questioned why the suspects had not been escorted to the report office. The two officers engaged in a heated exchange and Senior Sergeant Kimeli reportedly reprimanded Kong’a for his conduct.
Jackson Kong'a, a police officer who was convicted for the murder of his boss.
Kong’a was overheard complaining that his senior had insulted him by calling him a fool and threatening to "finish" him. Provoked by the insult, Kong’a left the report office, cocked his gun, and went outside. Kimeli followed him minutes later before a gunshot was heard.
After the incident, Kong’a returned to the report office, surrendered his firearm and reported that he had shot his boss. His colleagues who testified in court said Kong’a claimed he had "finished" his job and was now a civilian ready to be arrested.
When the officers went outside, they found Mr Kimeli lying in a pool of blood on the tarmac about 50 metres from the station gate.
A post-mortem conducted by government pathologist, Dr Titus Ngulungu, revealed that Kimeli died from a single, close-range gunshot wound to the chest, which caused extensive damage to his lungs, heart and spine.
The bullet entered through the upper chest and exited through the back. A ballistic report confirmed that the spent cartridge recovered from the scene was fired from the same gun Kong’a had surrendered, based on unique firing pin markings.
Police constable Jackson Kong'a at a law court in Nakuru on August 9, 2023.
In his judgment, Justice Julius Nangea ruled that the verbal insults were not sufficient provocation to justify the killing. “Although, the accused was angered by the deceased’s insults, this was no grave or sudden provocation so as to remove the case from the realm of murder in law,” the judge said.
“The prosecution has proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, the accused is convicted of the offence pursuant to Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code.”
Kong’a is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1.
