Editor's Review

Tony Katana, 16, was shot dead by the officer at Uwanja Mbuzi, Kongowea in Mombasa on August 12, 2021. He was a student at Havards Secondary School.


A police sergeant will face murder charges at the Mombasa High Court for the fatal shooting of a secondary school student.

The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) which conducted investigations into the incident, found Sergeant John Otieno responsible for the murder of the student.

Tony Katana, 16, was shot dead by the officer at Uwanja Mbuzi, Kongowea in Mombasa on August 12, 2021. He was a student at Havards Secondary School.

In a statement dated August 26, Chairperson Anne Makori announced that IPOA has forwarded findings of their investigations to the office of Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji.

“IPOA forwarded the investigation file to the Office of Director of Public Prosecution with recommendations to charge Sargent John Otieno with murder, contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.

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“The ODPP, after independently reviewing the evidence therein, concurred with the recommendations of the Authority, and the officer is scheduled to take plea the High Court in Mombasa today, August 26, 2021,” the statement reads in part.

IPOA noted that the Katana died of bullet injuries inflicted during an encounter with police at Uwanja wa Mbuzi. According to the agency, his death falls within IPOA's mandate; to hold police accountable for their actions.

The student's body was discovered and identified by relatives at the Coast General Hospital mortuary a day after he was killed prompting IPOA to probe the incident.