The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched an investigation into a fatal police shooting at Angama Mara in Narok County that left at least one person dead and seven others injured. The Thursday morning incident occurred during a violent confrontation between police and a group accused of forcefully occupying disputed land within the Angama Conservancy in Lolkuruk village.
The group of about 300 individuals reportedly stormed the 800-acre property around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4, claiming it was illegally acquired and asserting ancestral ownership. Despite police efforts to negotiate with the intruders, tensions escalated, leading to the deployment of multiple security units, including the General Service Unit (GSU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit, and local police.
Police confirmed one fatality in the operation, but local residents allege that up to three people may have been killed during the confrontation. The land in question is linked to a former local politician and includes a luxury hotel, making it a high-profile and long-disputed piece of property.
In response to the incident, IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan confirmed the deployment of a Rapid Response Team to conduct an independent investigation. Citing Section 7(1)(a)(x) of the IPOA Act, which empowers the authority to investigate deaths and serious injuries resulting from police action, Hassan emphasized IPOA’s commitment to impartiality.
“The dispatched team has been instructed to gather all relevant information to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Hassan stated in a press release on Friday. He also extended condolences to the bereaved families and called for calm among the affected communities.
IPOA has pledged to make appropriate recommendations to relevant State agencies and will release its findings to the public once investigations are complete. The agency’s involvement is expected to bring clarity and accountability in a case that has further inflamed local tensions.
As the probe continues, the government faces renewed pressure to resolve long-standing land disputes and ensure police operations remain within the bounds of the law.