A love triangle involving two police officers turned fatal in Kitengela, Kajiado County, on Tuesday after one of the parties—a junior officer—allegedly fell to his death during a confrontation with his senior at their shared girlfriend’s apartment.

The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday morning, has since sparked intense scrutiny from both the public and internal police oversight bodies.

The deceased officer, identified as Police Constable Manasseh Ithiru, was attached to the Kitengela Police Station. He had reportedly visited his girlfriend, 27-year-old Irene Wavinya Nzioka, at her residence located on the fourth floor of Geoffrey Flats in the Noonkopir area.

What appeared to be a routine visit took a dramatic turn when Sergeant Abubakar Said, based at the Nairobi Railways Police Station, also arrived at the same apartment—unaware that his junior colleague was already there.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that both officers were romantically involved with Wavinya—a fact neither man seemed to know beforehand. When Said unexpectedly arrived, a heated confrontation reportedly broke out inside the apartment.

Neighbours said they heard loud voices and what sounded like a scuffle shortly before a loud thud came from the building’s rear parking area.

Moments later, residents discovered Constable Ithiru lying unconscious on the ground, bleeding heavily and with visible head and chest injuries. Emergency services were called to the scene, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. His body was later moved to the mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Initial police investigations suggest that the altercation may have escalated physically, leading to the officer’s fall. However, it remains unclear whether he jumped, slipped, or was pushed.

Authorities recovered a Ceska pistol at the scene—legally assigned to Sergeant Said—which is now being examined as part of the forensic investigation. Bullet casings were not found, and no gunshot wounds were reported, ruling out any immediate evidence of a shooting.

Kajiado County Police Commander Muthuri Mwongera confirmed the arrest of both Sergeant Said and Ms. Wavinya. “We have placed the officer and the woman in custody to assist us with investigations. The matter is sensitive and will be handled with the utmost professionalism,” he said, adding that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had taken over the case.

Detectives are reviewing CCTV footage from the apartment building and questioning neighbours who might have witnessed or overheard the altercation. Preliminary findings suggest that the senior officer may have been in a long-term relationship with the woman, whereas the junior officer is believed to have started dating her more recently.

Inside the apartment, investigators reportedly found signs of a struggle, including broken glass and overturned furniture. The woman, who appeared distraught during interrogation, told officers that she had not expected both men to show up at the same time. She admitted to being romantically involved with both but insisted she had no intention of causing conflict.