A police officer is nursing serious head injuries after he was attacked with a machete during an operation to arrest a wanted suspect in Butula, Busia County.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening, September 27, at Murumba, where officers from Bumala Police Station had been called to reinforce their colleagues from Murumba Police Post.
Police said the suspect, identified as Stephen Ouma Okinda, 36, was wanted in connection with an alleged assault on his father on September 22.
Police officers had reportedly visited his home on September 23 to arrest him, but he allegedly threatened them with a machete, forcing them to withdraw.
According to police, officers returned to the area on Sunday evening after their colleagues at Murumba Police Post requested reinforcement to apprehend the suspect.
During the operation, Okinda allegedly attacked a police constable, striking him twice on the left side of the head with a machete.
The officer sustained two deep cuts and was rushed to Pamako Medical Centre, where he received initial treatment before being transferred to Life Care Hospital in Bungoma for specialised treatment.
Police said the officer was in serious condition.
The confrontation also resulted in damage to a G3 rifle issued to another officer.
Police said the suspect allegedly struck the firearm with the machete, cutting it into two pieces.
During the confrontation, four officers discharged their firearms in an attempt to subdue the suspect.
Police eventually overpowered Okinda and arrested him.
He was taken to Bumala Police Station, where he was placed in custody pending further investigations.
The incident has raised questions about the circumstances under which the suspect managed to seriously injure an officer and damage a police firearm during the arrest operation.
Elsewhere, a police officer was injured after a group of suspected looters attacked officers responding to a road accident at Tunnel area in Kipkelion, Kericho County.
The constable sustained a head injury after he was struck by a stone while officers attempted to contain the situation.
According to police officers had gone to the scene of an accident that had earlier been reported when they encountered a group allegedly looting iron sheets from a HOWO trailer involved in the accident.
The suspects reportedly turned hostile and began throwing stones at the officers.
The victim was hit on the forehead and sustained injuries. He was rushed to Fort Ternan Sub-County Hospital, where he received initial treatment before being referred to Siloam Hospital in Kericho for further medical attention.
Police have launched investigations into the incident and the reported looting at the accident scene.
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