A sign outside Embu Level Five Hospital.
The events of November 9, 2024 will be etched in the minds of Ugweri shopping centre residents in Runyenjes Constituency, about 30 kilometres from Embu town, for a long time.
It was a Saturday night and men were in jovial mood, imbibing their favourite drinks at a popular bar and chatting the night way.
For Ephantus Nyaga Muriithi, 43, the evening was about to come to an end and the casual labourer would go back to his family of three children.
But it was not to be.
As fate would have it, Muriithi ended up a dead man, with his head blown off by a rogue police officer’s bullet.
His body is preserved at the Embu Level Five Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.
According to witness accounts, two police officers stormed the bar around 11.15 pm, causing a commotion and stampede.
In the ensuing pandemonium, as the revellers hurriedly ran out to escape arrest, they accidentally pushed one of the officers, causing him to fall down.
It was then that the officer stood up in a murderous rage, cocked his gun and allegedly opened fire.
One bullet caught Muriithi’s head, killing him on the spot. Another man suffered shoulder injury and is fighting for his life in hospital.
Officer appeared drunk
The family said Muriithi's head was blown off in the shooting and that he had no chance of surviving.
“Our son was in the bar seated when the policeman turned violent and started shooting indiscriminately. The officer, who appeared drunk, was in full police uniform when he started spraying bullets on people," said Mr John Francis Nyaga, an uncle of the deceased.
Mr Nyaga, a retired senior police officer, said they would not rest until the suspect is punished in accordance with the law and the family compensated over the loss of their beloved son.
Residents said the police officers forced their way into the bar, accusing the revellers of drinking outside the stipulated hours.
“It was a fatal incident which left us reeling in shock. Bar patrons were fleeing in panic when they accidentally knocked down the officer and he should not have opened fire on innocent people," said Mr Kithaka Karukenya.
Following the incident, residents rose up in protest demanding justice. Ms Catherine Gikeri said she learned of the shooting with great shock, adding that justice should be served and the officer responsible for the crime punished.
A human rights activists, Mr Taracisio Kagwe, condemned the incident while calling for justice.
Mr Kagwe said no one has a right to take away human life and that the officer who killed Muriithi should be thoroughly probed and legal action taken against him.
“Detectives should make sure that there will be no cover up. The family of the deceased has been thrown into mourning and they should get justice," said Mr Kagwe.
Embu County Police Commander Samuel Muthamia said the police officer had already been arrested by detectives and that murder charges would be preferred against him.
“We swung into action immediately the incident was reported and seized the officer. The matter is being treated as murder and he will appear in court soon," said Mr Muthamia.
Mr Muthamia said he visited the scene soon after the fatal shooting and ordered the arrest of the suspect. The police boss asked the residents and the family to be calm, assuring them that justice will be done.
“The work of the police is to safeguard citizens and their property but not to harm them. This incident is unfortunate and does not reflect our duty to serve peacefully," he said.
