A father who was on his way to pick his child from school in Nairobi's Mlango Kubwa estate was shot dead on Tuesday, November 9.
The 29-year-old man identified as James Nungu, was caught in the line of fire when a police officer attempted to shoot a suspect who was on the run.
According to the victim's wife, she had called him at 3.20 pm to remind him to pick up their son from school only to be informed shortly after that he had been shot.
"After five minutes, someone came and told me that he had been shot," she muttered amid her tears.
Witnesses claim that the suspect dropped the phone he had allegedly stolen during the chase. As the police officer picked up the stolen phone, he opened fire in an effort to subdue the thief.
However, the victim, who was seated a few metres away from where the phone was dropped, and in the company of friends, was hit by the stray bullet.
"The officer continued shooting as he picked up the phone. We were seated just one metre away.
" I felt a gust of wind blow past me. The bullet hit the victim who was seated on a chair, striking him on the right side of his chest," the witness narrated.
The man immediately began bleeding from the gunshot wound and died on the spot. The murder sparked protests in the area with residents setting tires on fire and flocking Juja road on Tuesday evening.
In addition, they demanded justice for what they described as reckless shooting by the police officer. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched investigations into the matter.
The police officer involved in the shooting is yet to be identified. Nungu's family demands justice for their kin.
