A police officer was tragically killed in a robbery incident in Dandora, Nairobi, in the early hours of Saturday. The officer, identified as Constable Layford Gitonga, was off duty when he was attacked by unknown assailants in Dandora Phase Three at around 1 a.m.
Reports indicate that Gitonga was accosted while walking in the area and is believed to have resisted the attempted robbery. This confrontation turned fatal when he was stabbed in the chest. The attackers then made away with his mobile phone before fleeing towards a nearby dumpsite. The officer died at the scene due to the severity of the stab wound.
Gitonga’s body was later moved to the mortuary for an autopsy as investigations into the incident began. Law enforcement officials have launched a probe to track down the suspects, though no arrests have been made so far. A police operation conducted in the vicinity shortly after the incident yielded no immediate leads.
Authorities are urging the public to cooperate with robbers during such confrontations to avoid unnecessary loss of life. While it is never ideal to give in to criminal demands, officials emphasize that preserving life should always take precedence.
The killing highlights the growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Nairobi, especially in areas like Dandora, where criminal activities are frequently reported. The proximity of the crime scene to a known dumpsite has also raised questions about how such locations continue to serve as escape routes or hideouts for criminals.
In a separate incident in Kilifi, ten police officers sustained injuries after their Land Cruiser overturned and rolled into a ditch in the Timboni Maweni area on Friday night. The officers, who were on duty at the time, were quickly rescued and received medical attention. Fortunately, all firearms in the vehicle were recovered and accounted for. The officers have since been discharged in stable condition.
The rise in traffic-related accidents involving police vehicles is causing concern among authorities, prompting calls for a review of transport safety protocols within the service. As investigations into both incidents continue, questions remain about officer safety both on and off duty in increasingly volatile environments.
