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Police have launched an investigation into the fire that burnt down the Garissa District police headquarters Tuesday night (October 2nd).

Initial reports suggest an electricity fault inside the anti-terror police offices sparked the fire that spread to other parts of the building, Garissa County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed told Sabahi.

"The whole district police headquarters, which also accommodates the criminal investigators and the registry offices, has been affected. Very crucial documents, equipment and evidence have been reduced to ashes," he said.

"There was a whole day of welding work at the anti-terror police offices, and preliminary investigations show the fire started from the sockets the workmen were using, however, comprehensive investigations will reveal the cause," he said.

No one was hurt during the five-hour inferno that started at 8pm, Mohammed said.

He criticised the local municipal council's capacity to fight fires. If the council was well equipped, the fire would have been extinguished before spreading, Mohammed said, adding that the Garissa District Disaster Management Committee plans to strengthen disaster preparedness and response.

Garissa District Deputy Police Chief Chemonges Ndiema told Sabahi that fifteen offices crucial in the fight against crime and terrorism were destroyed in the fire.

He said a strong wind aided the fire in destroying millions of shillings worth of property and important documents. There are back-up documents for some of the crucial information at the Nairobi police headquarters, Ndiema said.

Al-Shabaab attacks police posts

The fire comes a day after gunmen believed to be al-Shabaab militants attacked Iftin police post in Garissa with gunfire and grenades on October 1st. It also comes two days after two police officers were shot dead by unknown gunmen in Garissa.

However, Ndiema appealed to the public to stop speculation that al-Shabaab militants may have been involved in the fire.

"That will be giving the militants undue mileage because the police offices are under 24 hour watch," he said.

After Monday's grenade attack, some residents accused police of using excessive force in search of the gunmen.

Khalif Abdi Farah, executive director of Northern Forum for Democracy, told Sabahi that security personnel risk losing the support of the community because of the tactics they use during their security operations.

The residents feel under siege from the security officers whenever there is al-Shabaab related crime, he said.

Ndiema said no arrests had been made so far.

Mohammed, the Garissa county commissioner, told Sabahi that his office would investigate the excessive force claims.

"We do not encourage harassment during security operations because the community is crucial stakeholders in the fight against crime" he said. "We will investigate the claims and take internal disciplinary measures for officers who are found to use excessive force."