A police officer attached to Tembeleo Police Station in Moiben Sub-County is in custody after allegedly shooting dead two people and injuring another during a Thursday night incident at a bar in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County.

Police said the officer stormed Kokwet Pub in the Juakali area while armed with an AK-47 rifle and opened fire, killing a woman identified as Caroline Malakwen, believed to have been his wife and the bar’s owner, along with a man identified as Ignatius Kipchumba, also known as Mwala.

A third person suffered a head injury, reportedly from a ricocheted bullet, and was taken to hospital in stable condition.

Law enforcement sources and witnesses said the officer had reportedly trailed the woman to the premises before carrying out the attack.

He was arrested while attempting to flee and was disarmed at the scene. His service rifle, which still had 22 rounds of ammunition, was recovered.

Authorities said the officer had been issued the firearm for official night duties on the same day but instead diverted to the bar using a motorcycle, where the deadly shooting occurred.

The bodies were moved to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary in Eldoret for post-mortem examinations as investigations continue to establish the motive behind the attack.

The incident adds to growing concern over rising cases involving police officers in emotionally charged or domestic-related situations. Authorities have partly linked such incidents to trauma associated with policing work.

In efforts to address the problem, the National Police Service Commission has launched counselling programmes, including a mental health and wellness unit that is tasked with leading outreach efforts to help prevent mental health challenges and substance abuse among officers—issues increasingly linked to the demands of high-stress and dangerous work environments.