Prosecution lines up four witnesses against officer in fatal shooting incident

Police Constable Ephantus Njeru, before Justice Julius Nangea at the High Court in Nakuru on June 24, 2025. [Daniel Chege, Standard]

The prosecution has lined up at least four key witnesses to testify against a police officer, accused of shooting a civilian dead in London Estate, Nakuru County, on June 9, 2025.

Ephantus Njeru, the main suspect, was among 10 police officers deployed to quell protests by residents against alleged police harassment.

Njeru allegedly shot and killed Daniel Mwangi during the protests.

The four witnesses include residents and protestors within the London estate.

According to the prosecution, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) through lead investigator Leah Munene, had availed statements of four key witnesses in the case.

Njeru's lawyer David Mongeri said he has been supplied with statements of four witnesses in the case.

"We are ready for trial. We have statements of four witnesses. If the prosecution intends to supply us with more statements, they should do so before trial," Mongeri told Justice Julius Nangea.

Njeru was released on Sh1 million bond with a surety of similar amount.

Justice Nangea ruled that Ipoa did not submit compelling evidence for the officer to be held in custody during trial.

Ipoa had earlier in July 2025 submitted before the court that the four key witnesses had faced threats.

Njeru denied the murder charge. Ipoa said the accused who is an undercover policeman, together with the nine officers, had arrested three people suspected of being bhang peddlers.

One of the suspects is said to have resisted arrest, attracting the attention of the public who questioned the actions of the police.

Njeru allegedly opened fire at the crowd that had gathered and shot Mwangi, an innocent by-stander.

He was shot in the chest, sparking protests by residents for two days, to demand justice.

The hearing will commence on October 23.