A tragic case of mistaken identity has left the community of Kombewa, Kisumu County, in shock after a former Siaya County Assembly clerk was shot dead by police responding to a burglary attempt.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday morning when police were called to White House Resort following a distress call reporting an attempted break-in. It was reportedly the fifth such burglary attempt at the facility in recent days. Upon arrival, officers took position at the rear side of the resort where they soon spotted five men approaching. Believing them to be the suspects behind the attempted break-ins, the officers opened fire.
During the exchange, a 50-year-old man was fatally shot. Police later identified him as Felix Isaac Olwero, the former county clerk and owner of the resort. Unbeknownst to the officers at the time, Olwero had rushed to the scene in response to the alarm raised by his staff, not realizing he would be mistaken for one of the intruders.
According to initial police reports, the men appeared armed with pangas and crude weapons, allegedly threatening to attack the officers. The police claim they first fired in the air to disperse the group, but when one of the individuals advanced towards them, they responded with live bullets. It was only later that they discovered the deceased was in fact the proprietor of the resort, not part of the suspected gang.
The tragic death has since been classified as a mistaken identity case, sparking questions about the conduct of the officers and their engagement rules in such situations. One of the other men seen fleeing the scene managed to escape into the darkness. No further incidents were reported after the shooting.
The resort’s management has decried the frequent burglary attempts that have left staff and patrons living in fear. They appealed for enhanced security patrols in the area to curb rising cases of insecurity. Meanwhile, Olwero’s body was taken to the mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination as investigations continue.
Authorities have confirmed that a probe has been opened into the shooting, with expectations that accountability will be sought in the wake of the fatal error. The death of the former county official has left family, friends, and the community mourning, as calls grow for better police response protocols to avoid such tragedies in the future.
