By Abdullahi Jamaa | Wajir Today | Friday, 24 April 2026

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has launched an investigation into the fatal police shooting of a civilian in Garissa County earlier this week, the agency said on Thursday.

The victim, identified as Adan Mohamed Hassan, was shot dead in the early hours of April 21 near the Modika Barrier in Garissa, according to a statement from the oversight body.

IPOA said its Rapid Response Team began inquiries after receiving official notification of the incident from the National Police Service, as required by law.

Preliminary findings indicate that Hassan had responded to a distress call from a friend who had been arrested at around 2:20 a.m. During the incident, officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Balambala allegedly damaged Hassan’s vehicle.

The situation escalated when Hassan attempted to intervene, at which point he was shot. A post-mortem examination has since confirmed that he died from a single gunshot wound to the head, IPOA said.

Investigators have taken several steps, including attending the post-mortem, recording witness accounts, collecting police records and securing key exhibits. The team has also documented the crime scene and examined both police vehicles and the damaged civilian car as part of the probe.

The watchdog urged residents of Garissa to remain calm as investigations continue, stressing that public cooperation is essential to ensure a thorough and credible inquiry.

“IPOA remains committed to conducting independent and impartial investigations into the matter,” the statement said.

Fatal police shootings have periodically drawn scrutiny in Kenya, with oversight bodies under pressure to ensure accountability within the security services.

The agency did not indicate when the investigation would be completed but said further updates would be provided as the inquiry progresses.