Investigations have been launched to establish circumstances under which a traffic officer was shot during a sting operation by anti-corruption detectives in Kisumu.

The probe was launched after both Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives and police denied having fired the bullet that injured one of the traffic officers arrested for reportedly taking bribes.

The female officer sustained a gunshot injury in the thigh as her five colleagues were arrested. She was rushed to Port Florence Hospital for treatment. 

The cops were seized at roadblocks at Mamboleo area, a few metres from Kisumu International Airport, following bribery complaints from the public.

They were taken to Mamboleo Police Station for identification before being moved to the regional EACC office to make a statement.

Ballistic tests

The scuffle ensued when traffic officers defied orders to surrender to the EACC agents. Several gunshots were fired as members of the public scampered for safety.

In a joint statement, Nyanza Regional Police commander Vincent Makhoha and Western Kenya EACC regional acting manager Aura Chibole confirmed the arrests, saying the officers will be presented in court once investigations are complete.

Chibole said the suspects will be released on police bond pending a review of their files by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He did not say how much the officers had collected.

Makokha said a ballistic test would be carried out to determine what transpired during the shoot out.