The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has taken decisive action, recommending severe murder and attempted murder charges against five individuals following a horrifying shootout at a Kitengela nightclub that left two men fighting for their lives.

The blurred line between law enforcement and lawlessness was brutally exposed on the neon-lit dancefloor of a popular Kitengela nightclub. A night of weekend revelry quickly descended into bloodshed at the C&M Lounge and Accommodation, resulting in a chaotic shootout involving a senior officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The violent incident has sparked immense public outrage and renewed urgent demands for police accountability.

The decision by the DCI to pursue maximum charges—murder and attempted murder—against five suspects, including the implicated officer, signals a significant escalation in the quest for justice. The tragedy, which left victims Joseph Mosunu and Kevin Maseri in the Intensive Care Unit battling severe abdominal gunshot wounds, has forced a harsh spotlight onto the alarming trend of "trigger-happy" off-duty officers abusing their firearms in civilian spaces.

A Night of Revelry Turned Bloody

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, January 25, 2026. What began as a standard barroom altercation rapidly spiraled out of control. According to the DCI's official press statement, the confrontation involved multiple patrons and the off-duty senior detective. As tempers flared and physical violence ensued, a firearm was drawn and discharged multiple times into the crowded venue.

The immediate aftermath was sheer panic. Patrons scrambled for the exits as Mosunu and Maseri collapsed, bleeding heavily from close-range ballistic trauma. The swift response from local emergency services saved their lives that night, but the severity of their injuries necessitated immediate transfer to the Kajiado County Referral Hospital's ICU, where they underwent critical, life-saving surgical interventions.

Conflicting Narratives and Eyewitness Accounts

In the immediate wake of the shooting, wildly conflicting narratives emerged regarding the justification of the lethal force. The senior DCI officer, in his initial recorded statement, desperately attempted to paint himself as a peacemaker. He asserted that he intervened purely to quell a violent riot that had broken out among the patrons, claiming he was forced to discharge his Jericho pistol into the air as a warning to disperse the hostile crowd. He further deflected blame by alleging that other unknown individuals in the club also fired weapons.

However, eyewitness testimonies vehemently contradicted the officer's sanitized version of events. Onlookers reported that a direct, heated altercation occurred between the officer and the victims prior to the gunfire. "He didn't shoot in the air; he shot at them," one terrified witness confirmed to the press. The physical evidence—specifically, the trajectory of the bullets striking the victims squarely in the abdomen—makes the "warning shot" defense highly implausible.

• A barroom brawl at C&M Lounge resulted in an off-duty DCI officer opening fire.
• Victims Joseph Mosunu and Kevin Maseri sustained critical abdominal gunshot wounds.
• Five suspects, including the officer, now face murder and attempted murder charges.

The Quest for Ballistic Truth and Accountability

Facing mounting public pressure and damning witness testimonies, the DCI was forced to act swiftly against one of its own. The senior officer was immediately disarmed, his Jericho pistol confiscated and sent for rigorous forensic ballistic analysis. Detectives have meticulously processed the crime scene, collecting spent casings to definitively match the weapon that caused the catastrophic injuries.

The formulation of murder and attempted murder charges against five individuals indicates that investigators believe this was not an act of self-defense, but a coordinated, malicious assault. The interdiction of the officer represents a crucial step in maintaining the integrity of the National Police Service, proving that the badge will not serve as a shield for criminal behavior.

Addressing the Crisis of Rogue Officers

This tragic event in Kitengela is a microcosm of a broader, systemic issue plaguing Kenyan law enforcement: the reckless use of firearms by off-duty personnel in social establishments. The incident has galvanized civil society organizations and citizens who are increasingly weary of "cowboy" officers utilizing their state-issued weapons to settle petty personal disputes in bars and lounges.

The DCI's transparent processing of the scene and the elevation of charges to the highest criminal denominator offer a shred of hope to the families of the victims. As the five suspects prepare to face the full wrath of the judiciary, the case will serve as a definitive litmus test for Kenya's commitment to ending police impunity.

"Detectives launched investigations and secured the scene for processing," the DCI stated, a clinical summary of the beginning of what promises to be a grueling legal battle for justice on behalf of the victims of the C&M Lounge shootout.