Tension gripped Makongeni in Thika, Kiambu County, after a police officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) allegedly shot and killed two civilians on Sunday morning.
The officer, identified as Constable Eric Gitonga, had reportedly rammed his vehicle into a boda boda carrying a rider and passenger. Both parties are said to have agreed to proceed to Makongeni Police Station to record the incident.
However, the situation quickly spiraled out of control. Witnesses claim the officer, who appeared intoxicated, drew his firearm and opened fire on members of the public who had gathered to confront him over alleged reckless and drunk driving.
According to a police report, the victims were not the boda boda rider or passenger but two bystanders — Kennedy Ojuma, 38, and Stephen Mwendwa Maweu, 39 — both local boda boda operators. They succumbed to gunshot wounds shortly after the shooting.
When traffic officers arrived at the scene, Gitonga allegedly resisted attempts to be disarmed, leading to a violent confrontation during which the two men were fatally shot.
The officer was eventually overpowered, disarmed, and arrested before being taken into custody at Thika Police Station. He is expected to be arraigned as investigations continue.
The bodies of the deceased were moved to the General Kago Funeral Home in Thika.
Meanwhile, enraged residents torched the Audi vehicle Gitonga had been driving, vowing not to relent until justice is served for the slain men.
