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A Nakuru man has shared the harrowing details of an early morning break-in at his home by armed individuals, who later identified themselves as police officers.
The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of December 23, left the family shaken and questioning the actions of the attackers.
According to the man, the break-in was a case of mistaken identity, with the attackers allegedly searching for cartoonist Gideon Kibet, also known as Kibet Bull.
READ: Content Kibet Bull was planning to create before disappearance
Terrifying wake-up call
Speaking to NTV on January 1, the man said that the nightmare began when he and his family were at home in the quiet of the night. After enjoying a family meal, they went to sleep, unaware of the danger that awaited them.
At around 3:30 am, a loud bang shook the entire house, startling the family. The man described the noise as so powerful that it felt like the foundation of the house was trembling.
Shocked and confused, he immediately called for help from estate security. However, his neighbours were reluctant to get involved, preferring to stay inside and watch from their windows.
Before long, a group of approximately seven armed men stormed into the bedroom, brandishing automatic weapons. The terrifying moment marked the first time the man had ever come face to face with guns aimed directly at him.
READ: DPP invokes his powers over the abduction of Kibet Bull & 4 others
Realisation of mistaken identity
Despite the overwhelming fear, the armed men soon seemed to realise they had made a mistake. As the man sat on his bed with his hands raised, they lowered their weapons and began questioning him.
I saw about seven men enter my bedroom, brandishing automatic weapons; black plastic ones that seemed to be the latest models. For the first time, I found myself staring at guns pointed directly at me.
When they saw me, it seemed they realised they had made a mistake, it wasn’t the right place. I noticed they relaxed their weapons
They searched his home, inspecting his rooms before turning their attention to his wife and children.
At that point, the family was informed by the men that they were, in fact, police officers. However, the man denies hearing any announcement or call for them to open the door.
“They told me, ‘Old man, we are police officers. Why didn’t you open the door when we called out?’ I told them I didn’t hear them calling,” the man recounted. According to him, the incident left his wife in distress, struggling to breathe from shock.
READ: DCI addresses Senator Omtatah's claims on alleged abduction
Investigation & denials
Once the armed men realised their error, they quickly left the home, leaving behind a series of unanswered questions.
The experience was later reported to local authorities. The man visited Njoro Police Station and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to file a report.
However, the DCI claimed that they had no knowledge of the operation, raising further concerns. According to the DCI, any operation in the area would have required prior notification to them, and no such communication had been received.
I left and went to report the incident at Njoro Police Station. I reported everything that happened, and they took my statement. I then went to the DCI, and they told me they weren’t aware of the incident.
What you should know about Kibet Bull
Kibet Bull gained public attention after his viral illustrations that criticise the government, often featuring depictions of President William Ruto.
He was set to leave for Tel Aviv University in Israel on December 27, 2024, to continue his studies. According to Senator Omtatah, Kibet visited him before his planned departure, but he was allegedly abducted by unknown persons.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has denied any involvement or knowledge of the vehicle linked to the abduction of the social media critic.
His abduction adds to a concerning trend of disappearances, with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) documenting the disappearance of 28 other individuals since the protests in June 2024.