Two police officers from Isiolo County are being held at the Marsabit police station after they allegedly caused commotion in Shauri Yako Estate, within Marsabit town by firing several bullets in the air over bread.
The duo, on escort duty with the Kenya Highways Authority (KenHA) to Wajir had made a stopover in Marsabit town Saturday, when they reportedly got embroiled in a row over an expired loaf of bread.
Area police commander Steve Oloo confirmed that the two rogue officers were arrested for gross misconduct by misusing their firearms and positions to engage a shopkeeper in an uncivil manner, over a trivial matter.
Oloo said the two had returned to a house in the morning when one of them found the wife seemingly in a temperamental mood because she had been sold bad bread.
The county commander explained that the officers whom he described as reckless went to the shop and confronted the trader.
However, the shopkeeper declined to exchange the bread with a fresh one because the buyer had apparently taken time to return it.
It was then that a bitter argument ensued with the two threatening to make the shopkeeper to know that they were real police officers, whose demands could not be ignored just like that.
The commotion attracted neighbours and the area chief disarming the officers while the onlookers demanded for action.
Oloo added that police officers were sent to the scene after a report was made by the chief who whisked them away.
“They were escorting a Kenya National Highway Authority team that was headed to Wajir Town on official duty and they are going to remain in custody over the weekend awaiting disciplinary action,” he said.
The police commander said his office was engaging their counterparts in Isiolo about the matter. He warned police officers against engaging in acts that border on crime and especially misuse of firearms, since the National Police Service will never condone such behavior.
By Sebastian Miriti
