A police constable was shot dead in mysterious circumstances by his colleagues while patrolling Umoja Estate in Nairobi on Thursday night. According to the police and witnesses, Constable Koech of Buru Buru Police division was shot several times by plainclothes officers near famous Egesa Club.

The officers who killed Koech were said to have come from the neighbouring Kinyago Police Post in Dandora. Police said Koech had accompanied his colleague on normal patrol duties when he was accosted and killed by the officers.

Although details surrounding the shooting remained unclear, officers who did not want to be named gave different versions of the incident. Some said the three officers from Kinyago had gone to the area to arrest a criminal when they differed with their uniformed colleague.

According to eyewitness, it appears the late Koech, who was in uniform at the time, doubted the mission by his colleagues from the neighbouring jurisdiction prompting an argument.

Witnesses said they heard gunshots before the officer dropped on the ground. He died instantly. Senior police yesterday maintained that the shooting could have been a case of mistake identity, but officers at Buru Buru read mischief in the shooting of their colleague. "It appears to have been a case of mistaken identity and we are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting," said Nairobi PPO Antony Kibuchi.

A gangster was killed at the same area last Sunday and it remained unclear whether the incident was related to Thursday's night shooting. A police officer was also injured in the same area during a confrontation with suspected thugs.

Police officers from Buru Buru visited the scene at about 11pm but the body remained there until past 1am when it was removed and taken to the City Mortuary.