Sergeant Francis Singila, a detective from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Operation Support Unit, has been promoted following his remarkable survival of a gunfight during a high-stakes operation in Mwihoko, Githurai, last year. Singila was among 134 DCI officers recently elevated in rank.
The dramatic incident unfolded on the night of August 10, 2022, after a two-month investigation targeting a notorious suspect, Ndienya, who was wanted for a string of robberies across Nairobi, Kajiado, and Kisumu. The operation, conducted around 11 p.m., aimed to apprehend Ndienya, who was known to be armed and dangerous.
When Singila and his team arrived at the suspect’s house, they knocked on the door, but no one responded. The officers forced their way in, unaware that a fierce gunfight was about to erupt. As soon as they entered, gunfire erupted from one of the bedrooms where the suspect was using his wife and children as human shields, making it difficult for the officers to return fire.
Despite the danger, Singila and his team held their ground, taking cover in the sitting room as the intense firefight lasted for about two minutes. When the shooting stopped, Ndienya was found dead. Police recovered a Ceska pistol, which had been stolen from a police officer in Kisumu.
Both Singila and Constable Andrew Nyakundi sustained serious injuries in the shootout. Singila, who was shot multiple times, spent three months in a Nairobi hospital recovering from his injuries.
Now, a year after the harrowing incident, Singila has been recognized for his bravery and dedication to duty with a promotion, marking a new chapter in his distinguished career at the DCI.