Night of terror in Kuria as elderly man is gunned down

Fear and tension gripped parts of Migori and Kakamega counties after separate gun attacks left one man dead and another seriously injured in violent incidents now under police investigation.

In Kuria West, detectives in Kehancha are investigating the fatal shooting of a 68-year-old man after gunmen struck in the Namba area on Monday night.

Police identified the deceased as Josiah Nyatondo Chacha.

According to investigators, officers responding to reports of gunfire recovered five spent 9mm cartridges at the scene, confirming that a shooting had taken place.

However, efforts to access the body reportedly turned chaotic after a group of armed and hostile residents blocked officers from entering the house where the body had been locked.

Police said tensions escalated when one unidentified person allegedly attempted to stab an officer during the confrontation.

Officers responded by firing three rounds of 5.56mm ammunition into the air to disperse the crowd before retreating to the station as the situation deteriorated.

Authorities said the body remained at the scene for hours before police managed to remove it on Tuesday morning.

Police said the deceased had suffered bullet wounds in the armpit.

The motive behind the killing has not yet been established.

The latest incident comes amid what authorities describe as a rise in violent crime in the area. A special police squad has since been deployed to pursue gangs linked to the attacks.

Meanwhile, in Kakamega County, police in Khwisero have launched investigations after a 25-year-old shopkeeper and M-Pesa agent was shot during a violent robbery in Irumbi ‘A’ village.

Police said the incident happened at about 8.30pm on Monday as the trader was reportedly taking display goods inside his shop at closing time.

Preliminary investigations indicate that two masked men approached the victim before one of them, who was allegedly armed with a rifle, shot him near the left collarbone after he attempted to resist.

The attackers are said to have broken into a safe box inside the premises and escaped with an unknown amount of cash believed to be proceeds from the day’s business and M-Pesa transactions.

Police also said the robbers stole the victim’s mobile phone, which had been left charging inside the shop, before fleeing on a waiting motorcycle.

The injured trader was rushed to Yala Level IV Hospital for emergency treatment before being referred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for specialised care.

Investigators documented the scene and said efforts are underway to establish the type of firearm used during the robbery.