Residents protest the shooting of a businesswoman in Isiolo Town on July 21 /HANDOUT
Detectives are investigating an incident where a prominent businesswoman was shot dead and her purse stolen in a late-night robbery near the Isiolo main bus stage.
A boda boda rider was injured in the attack, police have said.
The shooting sparked protests in the area with locals demanding arrest of the killers of Angelina Kananu aged 49.
The protesters marched in town on Tuesday as they demanded police action.
Isiolo governor Abdi Guyo described the incident as a targeted attack and offered his condolences to the family of the deceased.
"I am deeply saddened by the tragic killing of Angelina Kananu, a businesswoman who was fatally shot in a suspected targeted attack in Isiolo Town last night. This is a very unfortunate and heartbreaking incident that has shocked our community," Guyo said.
He called on security agencies to move urgently to identify and arrest those responsible.
"I strongly urge the security agencies to conduct swift, thorough and impartial investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding this heinous crime and ensure those responsible are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice," Guyo added.
As protests intensified along the busy highway, the governor urged residents to remain peaceful and to assist investigators with
any information that could help advance the case.
The blockade of the Isiolo-Moyale highway, a critical transport corridor linking Kenya to Ethiopia, briefly disrupted commercial activity across the region.
Police said they were pursuing the attackers.
According to police, the incident was reported at Isiolo police station on Monday, July 20, after members of the public alerted authorities of a shooting near Westgate Market.
Police officers rushed to the scene and found two victims with injuries.
Police said Kananu sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen and left leg above the knee. She died at the scene.
The second victim, a 48-year-old boda
boda rider, sustained a gunshot wound to the right buttock. The bullet remained
lodged in his body, and he was rushed to the Isiolo County Referral Hospital,
where he was admitted in stable condition.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the businesswoman had just closed her shop and was boarding a motorcycle when two armed men, reportedly carrying a rifle, approached on foot and opened fire.
The attackers then grabbed her purse before fleeing into the nearby Bulapesa slums.
Crime scene investigators recovered five spent 7.62x39mm cartridge cases and one live round at the scene.
The area was processed and documented before the body was moved to Kiirua Mission Hospital Mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Police have launched a manhunt for the assailants as investigations into the fatal robbery continue.
Meanwhile, police are investigating the death of a man who was found unresponsive at a matatu waiting bay in Meru town.
According to the police, the incident was reported at Meru police station on Monday, July 20.
The report stated that Peter Gitari, popularly known by the alias “Muchuka,” and estimated to be about 50 years old, was found lying unresponsive at the matatu waiting bay near the former Tuskys Stage in Meru town.
Police officers visited the scene and confirmed the man had died.
A preliminary examination revealed no visible physical injuries on the body. Investigators recovered two amoxicillin tablets at the scene, which were documented as part of the investigation.
Crime scene officers processed and documented the area before the body was moved to the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where it will be preserved pending a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.
Police said investigations into the incident are ongoing.
