BY TONY MUSISI
A General Service Unit (GSU) officer who allegedly shot dead a 45-year-old nurse, Dorris Murei, near Eldoret State Lodge three days ago will remain in custody for 21 more days as investigations into the incident continue, an Eldoret court has ruled.
Chief Magistrate Peter Ndwiga directed that the suspect, Nathan Kirwa, who was attached to the security detail of Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, be held at Naiberi Police Station.
“I have granted the prayers sought by the investigating officer to detain the suspected killer for 21 days to enable him complete investigations into the murder of the deceased nurse,” said Ndwiga.
The ruling followed an application by the investigating officer, Police Constable Edwin Chirchir, seeking orders to detain Kirwa for 21 days, arguing that detectives had not completed their investigations into the murder.
In his miscellaneous application filed before the court, Chirchir said investigators required more time to conclude inquiries into the gruesome killing.
“Your honour, we are requesting that PC Kirwa, who was attached to the security detail of Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, be held at Naiberi Police Station for at least 21 days,” Chirchir told the court.
He said detectives were yet to record statements from nine key witnesses, among them GSU officers who were at the scene of the fatal shooting on the fateful evening.
The investigating officer further told the court that a pistol, magazines, ammunition and a mobile phone seized from Kirwa during his arrest were yet to undergo forensic analysis.
The court also heard that the suspect could be a flight risk if released on bond, with the prosecution saying Kirwa was still armed when he was arrested along the Kapseret-Eldoret bypass.
Kirwa was arrested on August 31 following a six-hour manhunt after the murder of Murei, popularly known as Dori, who was allegedly shot several times inside a bar on Sunday, August 30.
The suspect is alleged to have arrived at the establishment while armed with a concealed firearm before walking directly towards Murei and opening fire.
Uasin Gishu Police Commander Wilberforce Sicharani confirmed the incident, saying the officer allegedly fired five shots at Murei, killing her on the spot.
“He went directly to the location of the lady whose name is Dorris Murei and who is popularly known here as Dori and began shooting her. He shot the deceased five times and she died on the spot,” Sicharani said during a media interview on Monday.
The case will be mentioned before the Eldoret Chief Magistrate’s Court on September 23, 2026.
