By Robert Mutasi 
A General Service Unit officer has been arraigned in an Eldoret court over the fatal shooting of a nurse inside a GSU camp in Ainabkoi, Uasin Gishu County.
The officer, Nathan Kirwa, was presented before Chief Magistrate Peter Ndwiga in connection with the murder of Doris Murei, a nurse attached to a camp near the Eldoret State Lodge.
The court granted detectives 21 days to detain Kirwa pending completion of investigations.
Investigating officer Edwin Chirchir told the court that the additional time was needed to record statements from more than nine witnesses and to forward exhibits recovered from the scene for forensic examination.
Chirchir said Kirwa is being treated as a person of interest in a case of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
The court heard that the incident happened on the evening of August 30, 2026, at the GSU mess compound in Ainabkoi Sub-County.
According to preliminary investigations, the officer met the deceased at the mess area before an altercation allegedly broke out.
Police allege that the officer shot Murei with a pistol and then fled the scene in a vehicle that was later found abandoned at the GSU main gate.
Officers who responded to the scene, together with crime scene personnel, found Murei’s body lying in the compound with apparent gunshot wounds. Seven spent cartridges were recovered from the scene.
The body was moved to a morgue in Eldoret where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted to establish the precise cause of death.
The prosecution told the court that Kirwa was later arrested in the Kaptinga area along the Kapseret – Maili Tisa Bypass road. During the arrest, police recovered a 9mm pistol and ammunition. He was then taken to Naiberi Police Station, where officers noticed an injury on his left index finger.
Chirchir urged the court not to release the suspect at this stage, arguing that he could interfere with witnesses, some of whom are fellow GSU officers based at the same camp. He added that key aspects of the probe are still pending, including witness statements, the post-mortem report, and ballistic analysis of the firearm, magazine, spent cartridges and ammunition.
Defence lawyer George Sonkule opposed the detention application and asked the court to free his client on bond, submitting that Kirwa was not a flight risk and would abide by any conditions imposed by the court and would not interfere with investigations.
The State opposed bond, citing the gravity of the offence and the fact that the incident occurred inside a protected security installation.
In his ruling, Magistrate Ndwiga allowed the police to hold the officer for 21 days to enable them to finalise investigations.
The file will be mentioned on September 21 for further directions.
Kirwa is yet to take plea. He remains innocent until proven guilty as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of Doris Murei continue.
Eldoret Leo