A police corporal has been found guilty of murdering Esau Juma Mwanguku in a case that dates back to March 2019, marking another major ruling linked to police accountability in Kenya.
The judgment was delivered by the High Court in Voi on May 12, with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) confirming the outcome of the case.
The court also cancelled the officer’s bond immediately after the conviction and ordered that he be held at Manyani GK Prison as he awaits sentencing on June 2, 2026.
Court records show that the shooting happened at Rockland Restaurant in Taveta Town, where both the officer and the victim had reportedly been drinking. Witness accounts presented during the trial indicated that the two became involved in an argument that later turned violent.
Investigators said the officer, who was on patrol at the time, allegedly confronted Mwanguku over what was described as a personal disagreement. According to witnesses, both men were intoxicated during the incident, which escalated moments later.
The officer reportedly drew his firearm and shot Mwanguku once in the chest. The victim died on the spot.
The incident sparked immediate attention from IPOA, which launched investigations independently. The authority later concluded that there was enough evidence to charge the officer with murder.
“The matter was investigated Suo Moto by the Authority. Upon completion of investigations, IPOA recommended that the officer be charged with murder,” the authority said in a statement following the judgment.
During the hearing, the court reviewed witness testimonies and evidence presented by prosecutors before finding that the officer’s actions directly caused Mwanguku’s death. The ruling now paves the way for sentencing, which is expected next month.
Francis Chege, the manager of the nightclub where the shooting occurred, told the court that he immediately informed Taveta Police Station after the incident. His report led to the officer’s arrest shortly after the shooting.
The judgment comes at a time when pressure has continued to grow on law enforcement agencies to address cases involving the misuse of firearms and violence against civilians.
Human rights groups and oversight bodies have repeatedly called for officers found responsible for unlawful killings to face prosecution and punishment through the courts.
