2 Officers, 3 Civilians Injured in Bungoma Court Shooting Incident
A tense moment unfolded at the Bungoma Law Courts after a firearm belonging to an officer from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) accidentally went off, injuring two officers and three civilians.
The incident happened on Tuesday morning during the hearing of a criminal case. According to Judiciary Spokesperson Paul Ndemo, the gun discharged unexpectedly, releasing live rounds inside the courtroom.
Ndemo confirmed that all five victims were immediately rushed to Bungoma Referral Hospital for treatment. Fortunately, none of them sustained life-threatening injuries.
“At around 10:50 am, while a criminal case was ongoing at the High Court in Bungoma, a DCI officer’s gun accidentally fired a bullet. The shot injured the officer himself, a Kenya Prisons officer, and three members of the public. They were quickly taken to Bungoma Referral Hospital where they are receiving medical care. Doctors have confirmed that all of them are stable, and there were no serious injuries or deaths,” Ndemo explained.
He went on to assure the public that everyone else present during the court session, including judges, lawyers, staff, and members of the public, remained unharmed.
“All court officials as well as members of the public at the court are safe. There is no cause for alarm. The County security team has already visited the court premises and is assessing the situation. The Judiciary will continue keeping the public updated on the matter,” he added.
Bungoma County Police Commander Anderson Njagi also issued a statement following the shooting. He said security officers had already been deployed to the court to investigate what exactly happened.
Njagi emphasized that the incident was being taken seriously, promising that measures will be put in place to prevent similar accidents in the future.
“We want to reassure the judiciary and members of the public that their safety is our top priority. Security agencies are working closely together, and we will do everything possible to ensure such an incident does not occur again,” he said.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) also reacted to the matter, noting that proper action will be taken to ensure accountability and to address any possible lapses in firearm handling.
The shooting has raised questions about security inside courtrooms, with many Kenyans calling for stricter measures to prevent firearms from posing risks to both officials and the public during court proceedings.
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