CCTV footage emerges as postmortem confirms Karatina businessman died from gunshot wounds

The late George Gathu, a businessman from Karatina who was shot by a police officer on Sunday night, died from multiple gunshot injuries.

This was confirmed by a postmortem conducted at Karatina Sub-County Hospital three days after the fatal shooting.

The revelation comes as CCTV footage from the petrol station where Gathu was shot emerged, capturing the moments leading up to his death.

The footage has heightened tension among Karatina residents, as it shows yet another violent incident involving a police officer.

The 42-second video shows a dispute between two businessmen escalating into a tragic act of violence, allegedly at the hands of a police officer.

The footage shows a heated argument between the two men at the station’s entrance at about 11:08pm on Sunday. Two police officers then intervene, leading to a physical confrontation in which George Gathu is pushed aside.

One officer is seen repeatedly kicking and striking him as he tries to shield himself.

“Ilikuwa tu ni mabishano ya kawaida ya wanaume. Haikuwa inavutia sana macho kwa sababu hawakuwa wamepigana ama kupigana mangumi. Sijui shida ilikuwa gani, walikuwa wanazozana tu. Karao ndiye alikuja kuingilia,” said a protected witness.

The assault then continues, with one officer seen striking Gathu with a firearm at around 11:10pm as the businessman attempts to walk away.

The officers are then seen pursuing him and cornering him at the station’s exit at approximately 11:10:52pm, where Gathu collapses after what appears to be a gunshot.

“Hapa wanasema walikuwa wananyang’anywa bunduki ndio wakapiga risasi. Itakuwaje bunduki tunanyang’anyana ndiyo inanishoot? Kama ni hivyo, karao mwingine ndiye angepiga risasi. Ndio maana wengine husema polisi huwa na bunduki zaidi ya moja,” added the witness.

According to a postmortem conducted on Wednesday, Gathu died from multiple perforating gunshot wounds, having been shot four times.

“Kulikuwa na majeraha ya risasi kifuani, risasi mbili ziliingia na kuathiri kichwa, na kulikuwa na jeraha moja upande wa kushoto ambapo risasi haikupatikana,” said a Vocal Africa representative, Stacey Akinyi.

Lilian Nyawira, the family lawyer, on her part said, “My clients will be rejecting any attempt to sanitise the circumstances that led to the shooting.”

The brother to the deceased, Peter Wang’ondu, added, “I believe the team from the DCI, IPOA and the police will do a commendable job.”