Kenya’s police watchdog, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), has gone to court seeking to keep a police officer behind bars, blocking his release on bond, after he was accused of fatally shooting a 22-year-old taxi driver, Aden Mohamed, at a roadblock in Garissa on April 21.
The legal intervention comes a day after the court adjourned the case to allow the suspect to find a lawyer, escalating a case that has sparked public outrage and protests over persistent police brutality in Kenya. The officer is set to face manslaughter charges, marking a critical test for the country’s police accountability mechanisms.
IPOA filed the urgent application on Friday, May 22, arguing that releasing the officer would pose a “serious risk” to their investigation. ” The authority further argued that releasing the officer on bond would pose a serious risk to the ongoing investigation, claiming there is a likelihood that he could compromise evidence,” according to court documents seen by Dalsan Media. The watchdog has urged the court to detain the suspect while inquiries into the fatal shooting continue.
The case stems from a harrowing incident in the early hours of April 21. Witnesses told police that Mohamed, a taxi driver, was called by two friends who had been arrested and handcuffed at the Modika roadblock. A confrontation with the police officer followed, ending with the officer allegedly shooting Mohamed in the head at close range before fleeing the scene. The suspect reportedly neglected his duties for over 15 days before resurfacing.
An IPOA source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Hiiraan that their investigators have collected critical witness statements and evidence from the scene. “We believe the suspect poses a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses who have agreed to testify,” the source said.
The killing has drawn sharp condemnation from Garissa residents and local leaders. Hundreds took to the streets last month demanding justice, and community elders have warned that such incidents erode public trust in the security forces.