Two families are crying for justice in the wake of a horrific double murder in Kanyonyoo, Kitui County, where a police officer allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend and her friend in cold blood before vanishing into the night. The Sunday night incident has left a trail of pain, unanswered questions, and growing calls for accountability within the police service.
The victims — 39-year-old Joy Ndunge Mutisya and her friend — were reportedly ambushed by Police Constable Bernard Siambe, who is said to have stormed into an entertainment joint where the women were enjoying their evening. An argument broke out between Joy and the officer, and when her friend attempted to intervene, he opened fire.
“He shot her friend first, then turned the gun on Joy,” said a witness. “Joy tried to escape and sought refuge in a nearby house, but he followed her and shot her dead too.”
Joy’s family, speaking to Channel 15 News for the first time, described her killing as senseless and cruel. “As a family, we are shattered,” said her sister. “We just want justice for our sister. We lost our parents not long ago, and now this.”
The officer, assigned to the Kanyonyoo Police Station, was reportedly on duty at a nearby gas station that night but is said to have sneaked out with an AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition. Police sources confirm that after the killings, he dumped the firearm at the Kanyonyoo weighbridge and fled.
A member of the public alerted the station’s OCS about the shooting. Soon after, another caller — identified as Jacqueline Mbithe — informed the police that two women had been gunned down by an officer in uniform. A team was immediately dispatched to the scene, where the tragic details were confirmed.
According to reports, the incident began at Password Bar, where Siambe found Joy and her friends enjoying themselves. After causing chaos at the bar, Joy fled to a nearby house — but he chased her down and ended her life there.
Locals in Kanyonyoo have expressed horror over the incident and are now demanding answers. “This is not just about a domestic issue — this is murder, and it must not be covered up,” said one elder. “These killings are becoming too common, especially involving armed officers. We want the government to take this seriously.”
Joy’s sister added that the family knew little about the man her sister had been dating. “I had never even met him in person. We only knew his name was Bernard. And now he’s taken her life.”
As the manhunt for Constable Bernard Siambe intensifies, both families — and the Kanyonyoo community — are left reeling from a tragedy they say could have been prevented.
