A tense incident in Kilibwoni, Nandi County, has sparked public concern after a 52-year-old man was shot during a chaotic police operation targeting a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier. The incident has raised questions about the use of firearms during crowd-control operations, police conduct and the need for an independent investigation into what happened.

According to a report published by Citizen Digital on September 27, 2026, the incident occurred on Friday when police officers moved to a local entertainment establishment in Kilibwoni in an attempt to arrest a KDF soldier identified as Emmanuel Kipkirui. The operation reportedly turned chaotic after the suspect resisted arrest and patrons at the establishment intervened. 

The man who was shot was identified as Julius Malel, a 52-year-old resident. Reports indicate that he sustained gunshot wounds to his right thigh and the back of his right hand. He was initially taken to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital before being transferred to a specialised medical facility in Eldoret for further treatment. At the time of the latest report, he was described as being in stable condition. 

How the incident began

The confrontation reportedly started when a combined team of officers from Kilibwoni and Kapsabet police stations went to an entertainment establishment to arrest Emmanuel Kipkirui.

Police said Kipkirui was wanted in connection with the alleged assault of Kilibwoni Deputy Officer Commanding Police Station Inspector Paul Ongulu.

The officers were reportedly led by Kilibwoni OCS Chief Inspector Peter Nangiro. However, the attempted arrest did not proceed peacefully.

According to the police account reported by Citizen Digital, Kipkirui resisted arrest and patrons at the establishment became involved. The situation escalated after the lights at the premises were switched off, while officers were reportedly pelted with stones and bottles. 

The confrontation created a difficult situation for the officers who were attempting to take the suspect into custody.

Police responded by deploying tear gas to disperse the crowd. They also fired live ammunition into the air as the situation became increasingly volatile. It was during this confrontation that Julius Malel was shot.

Julius Malel injured

Malel's shooting has become the central issue in the aftermath of the incident.

According to the available report, the 52-year-old suffered gunshot wounds to his right thigh and the back of his right hand. He received medical attention at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital before being transferred to a specialised medical facility in Eldoret.

The latest report said Malel remained hospitalised in stable condition. Therefore, claims that he was killed in this particular September 2026 incident are not supported by the latest reliable report available. 

The distinction is important because reports of shootings can change as investigations develop, particularly when several people are involved in a chaotic confrontation.

Residents demand accountability

The shooting has angered some residents of Kilibwoni, who have demanded answers from the authorities.

Some residents have accused the police of using excessive force during the operation. They questioned why live ammunition was used during the confrontation and called for investigations into the circumstances surrounding Malel's shooting.

Residents cited in the report included Eunice Chemelil and Wilson Tuwei, who condemned what they described as excessive police force.

The community has also called for action against officers they believe were responsible for the shooting.

Some residents have reportedly petitioned Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, calling for the transfer of officers attached to Kilibwoni Police Station and for the officer responsible for shooting Malel to face criminal charges. 

These are allegations and demands from residents, rather than established findings of an investigation.

Police give a different account

Police have defended their response by pointing to the circumstances surrounding the attempted arrest.

According to the police account, officers faced resistance from the suspect and hostility from members of the crowd. The crowd allegedly attacked officers using stones and bottles, while a police vehicle was reportedly damaged.

The officers therefore found themselves dealing with both the suspect they intended to arrest and a hostile crowd attempting to prevent the arrest.

Police reportedly fired live ammunition into the air as they attempted to control the situation. Tear gas was also used to disperse people from the area. 

The competing accounts underline why an independent investigation is important. Such an investigation would help establish precisely what happened, who fired the bullet that struck Malel and whether the force used during the operation complied with the applicable rules.

Violence continued after the shooting

The incident reportedly did not end at the entertainment establishment.

Following the confrontation, an angry group of residents reportedly moved to the rental home of Inspector Ongulu.

According to Citizen Digital, the group broke into the residence, damaged windows, destroyed household property and stole electronic equipment. The protesters also reportedly barricaded the Kilibwoni-Lessos road using burning materials, causing further disruption in the area. 

The destruction of property and road blockade added another dimension to the incident, turning what began as an attempted arrest into a wider security confrontation.

Community concerns about policing

The Kilibwoni incident has also revived broader concerns among some residents about relations between police officers and members of the local community.

Some locals alleged that certain officers have previously harassed operators of entertainment establishments. These allegations have not been established as facts, but they form part of the grievances being raised by residents following the shooting. 

For many residents, the issue is not only the shooting of Malel but also the manner in which police operations are conducted in populated areas.

Police officers have a responsibility to enforce the law and protect themselves and members of the public. At the same time, policing operations involving firearms require careful control because innocent people can be caught in the middle of confrontations.

Importance of an investigation

An independent investigation would be significant in establishing the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Among the questions that investigators may need to address are what prompted the arrest operation, what happened after Kipkirui resisted arrest, whether officers were attacked, how firearms were deployed and who fired the bullet that injured Malel.

Investigators may also need to establish whether the use of live ammunition was necessary and proportionate under the circumstances.

The investigation would also help distinguish between verified facts and allegations made by residents or police officers.

The KDF soldier at the centre of the operation

The police operation was reportedly focused on Emmanuel Kipkirui, a KDF soldier who was wanted over an alleged assault involving Inspector Ongulu.

The latest report indicates that the attempted arrest became the trigger for the confrontation at the entertainment establishment. The suspect is expected to face court proceedings, according to the report. 

His case is separate from the investigation into Malel's shooting. Establishing whether Kipkirui committed the alleged assault and determining whether police followed proper procedures during his arrest are matters that should be handled through the appropriate legal processes.

Calls for calm

The events in Kilibwoni demonstrate how quickly an arrest operation can escalate when a crowd intervenes.

The reported attacks on police officers and damage to property are also serious matters that require investigation. At the same time, the shooting of a civilian during the confrontation requires authorities to establish accountability where wrongdoing is found.

Residents and security agencies therefore face the challenge of preventing further escalation while investigations continue.

The health of Julius Malel is also an immediate concern. His reported stable condition provides some relief, but his injuries underline the risks associated with the confrontation.