Kitengela shooting victim dies as family demands arrest of police officers involved

Kevin died on Thursday morning after being transferred from Kajiado Referral Hospital to Metropolitan Hospital when his condition deteriorated.

Following his death, the family has called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to intervene and ensure speedy investigations and arrest of the police officers behind the shooting.

Police have confirmed being in possession of three firearms that were allegedly used during the Sunday morning incident.

The body of the late Kevin arrived at Kitengela Sub-County Hospital funeral home at around 1pm.

At the morgue to receive the remains were family and friends who received the news of his passing with shock. He had been admitted at Kajiado Referral Hospital before being moved to Metropolitan Hospital when he succumbed.

Paul Maseri, the deceased’s brother, said: “Tumekuwa tukishughulika na kujaribu kuona kwamba amepata uhai wake lakini leo asubuhi saa kumi hivi akatuacha. Ishara zote zinaonyesha kwamba aliaga kutokana na kupigwa kwa risasi kwa hivyo amekuja aka-develop multiple organ failure kufikia jana asubuhi.”

Family confirmed that Kevin sustained two gunshot wounds. He was shot from behind, one bullet entered through the back and exited through the stomach. It reportedly ruptured one kidney, pancreas and small intestines. The other bullet hit the scalp.

Daniel Kachori, the family lawyer, said: “Tunahitaji kuambia IG Kanja na Waziri wa Usalama Murkomen na IPOA tunawapatia makataa ya saa 24 kuona kwamba wamechukua hatua wale wametuhumiwa kuhusika wakuwe wamekamatwa pasi na kujali hadhi yao katika polisi na jamii.”

William Kasio, a relative, said: “Hata kama ni mtu mhalifu kiasi gani na hana silaha ya kupiga yule askari ile silaha ako nayo ni mawe, ungetafuta njia ya kumshika na kumweka kwa cell na kumfungulia mashtaka.”

The late Kevin and his cousin Joseph Musondu sustained gunshot wounds after an altercation with police officers including a senior DCI officer at an entertainment joint in Kitengela town.

Musondu who was shot in the abdomen is in stable condition and under treatment at Kajiado Referral Hospital.

Kajiado Police Commander Alex Shikondi says three persons of interest in the case have surrendered their firearms to the police.

Out of the three, two firearms belong to police officers while one pistol belongs to a civilian who is a licensed firearm holder.

“The exhibits have been taken to our forensic lab for examination, including three rifles and some cartridges, I want to assure members of the public there is no interference with the case, the case is being investigated,” said Shikondi.

Shikondi says the probe is also being conducted independently by Internal Affairs Unit and IPOA.

The police commander says those involved in the shooting will in the course of next week have their day in court.

“After we get results from the forensics lab, we get the postmortem report then an opinion will be formed who have been responsible for the heinous act,” Shikondi stated.

Six suspects and four witnesses have so far recorded statements with police. Police have also acquired CCTV footage which is key in unraveling the truth.

As the family waits for the postmortem to be conducted on Friday, questions still linger on who exactly shot Kevin Maseri, why the suspect is not in police custody and the status of investigations.