The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that five suspects, including a senior Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer, face murder charges following a fatal altercation outside a Kitengela nightclub.

Justice appears to be accelerating for the victims of the brazen Kitengela shooting. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has officially recommended murder charges against five individuals deeply implicated in the tragic January 25th incident that left one man dead and another critically injured.

This directive is a crucial milestone in the fight against police impunity in Kenya. It reinforces the principle that off-duty security personnel cannot weaponize their state-issued firearms to settle personal disputes, sending a strong deterrent message across all ranks of the National Police Service.

Chaos at the C&M Lounge

The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Sunday morning at the entrance of the popular C&M Lounge in Kitengela town, Kajiado County. What began as a mere disagreement quickly escalated into a lethal confrontation between the victims, Joseph Kasio Musoontu and Kelvin Shepashina Maseli, and a group that included a senior DCI officer.

During the altercation, firearms were drawn and discharged. Both Musoontu and Maseli sustained catastrophic injuries, suffering serious gunshot wounds to the abdomen, head, and pelvic regions. They were immediately rushed to Kajiado County Referral Hospital for emergency trauma care. While Musoontu remained admitted in stable condition, Maseli's situation deteriorated rapidly. He was transferred to Metropolitan Hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries days later.

The Officer's Disputed Defense

Following the shooting, the implicated senior DCI officer reported to the Kitengela Police Station to record a statement. In his official account, he maintained that he merely discharged his weapon into the air in an attempt to quell a violent brawl that had erupted at the bar. However, the trajectory of the bullets and the severe injuries sustained by the victims directly contradicted this narrative.

• Five suspects face recommended murder charges.
• Three firearms, including two police-issue rifles, confiscated for forensic analysis.
• The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) deeply involved in the probe.

Kajiado Police Commander Alex Shikondi confirmed that three firearms were confiscated from persons of interest—two belonging to police officers and one to a licensed civilian firearm holder. The exhibits, alongside spent cartridges recovered from the scene, were dispatched to the national forensic laboratory to definitively link the murder weapon to the fatal shots.

The Cry for Accountability

The death of Kelvin Maseli sparked outrage among Kitengela residents and his grieving family, who publicly demanded the immediate arrest of the police officers involved. The family petitioned Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to ensure the investigation was not compromised by internal police protectionism.

Responding to the public outcry, the DCI promoted a rigorous, multi-agency investigation led by the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO) in Isinya, collaborating closely with the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) and IPOA. The acquisition of critical CCTV footage from the lounge proved instrumental in unraveling the truth behind the chaotic Sunday morning.

The DPP's recommendation to proceed with murder charges signifies that the forensic and circumstantial evidence is robust enough to secure convictions. As the suspects prepare to face the High Court, the case stands as a grim reminder of the deadly consequences of firearm misuse in Kenya's vibrant nightlife spaces.