The Nakuru High Court has convicted a police officer for killing his superior following a protracted grudge.

Justice Julius Nangea found Jackson Kipkoech guilty of murdering Sergeant Christopher Kimeli on August 8, 2023, at the K9 Unit Dog Section in Nakuru County.

“The kind of weapon used leaves no doubt that the accused knew that death could result,” the judge said.

According to the prosecution, Kipkoech was assigned an AK-47 rifle, serial number BK 5804, with 30 rounds of ammunition the previous evening, August 7, and deployed for night sentry duty at Gate B alongside colleague Samson Kigo.

At around 4 a.m. the next morning, officers arrived at the station with two suspects. During routine inspection, Sergeant Kimeli ordered the suspects be taken to the reporting office. A heated confrontation reportedly followed between Kipkoech and Kimeli, after Kimeli allegedly berated him for failing to escort the suspects, calling him a “fool.”

Witnesses said Kipkoech stepped outside, cocked his gun, and was followed by Kimeli. Moments later, gunshots rang out.

“We heard the shots, then Kipkoech said, ‘I’ve finished him,’ and surrendered his firearm, asking to be arrested,” a witness testified.

Ballistics expert Francis Karori confirmed that the spent cartridge and 29 remaining bullets were from the AK-47 issued to Kipkoech, citing the weapon’s unique firing pin marks.

Dr Titus Ngulungu, who conducted the postmortem, reported that a single, close-range bullet to the chest caused fatal injuries to Kimeli’s heart, lungs, and spine. The bullet exited through his back, leaving a 40mm wound.

In his defence, Kipkoech claimed that Kimeli had verbally abused and humiliated him in front of other officers and tried to grab his firearm during a scuffle. He alleged that during the struggle, the gun accidentally discharged.

“He called me stupid and claimed I didn’t know my work. I didn’t react, he taunted and insulted me in the presence of other officers, grabbing my firearm,” he said.

However, the court rejected this version of events. “Although the accused was angered by the deceased’s insults, this was no grave or sudden provocation to remove the case from the realm of murder in law,” the judge noted.

Justice Nangea observed that Kipkoech must have known that shooting could cause death, therefore driven by malicious afterthought.

Sentencing is set for next month.