CCTV Footage Shows Police Shooting Karatina Businessman

A petrol station CCTV released on Tuesday, January 20, has revealed an altercation between two police officers and a deceased businessman in Karatina in Nyeri County, moments before he was shot and lost his life. The footage captured the police officers roughing up the deceased at his business premises before one of them opened fire and shot the businessman in the head at close range. The deceased, Gathu Matheri, was having a dispute with his mechanic, according to a witness. Following the altercation, two police officers on patrol arrived at the scene. The footage revealed that at around 11.10pm, the altercation seemed to be worsening as the police were captured assaulting Matheri. The officer threatened him with a firearm before striking him on the thighs. Kenyans.co.ke To ease the situation, the deceased seemingly walked away, but the police officers followed him. Upon reaching a white van parked adjacent, the officers are seen cocking their guns as they appear to be exchanging words. Seconds later, at approximately 11:10:52pm, the businessman, who was surrounded by the two officers, collapses from what are reported to be gunshot wounds. The officers stood at the scene for a minute before walking away and disappearing before people started gathering at the scene. Following the shooting that caused outrage in Karatina Town, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) launched investigations into the matter and announced it had arrested the police officer linked to the incident. "The authority has dispatched a Rapid Response Team from its Nyeri regional office to secure the scene, collect forensic and ballistic evidence, and also interview witnesses," IPOA said on Monday, January 19. A police constable attached to Karatina police station was arraigned in Court on Tuesday, January 20, and will remain in police custody for the next 14 days following IPOA’s request to carry out further investigations. The authority also argues that the suspect’s security is not guaranteed due to outrage among locals, and releasing him on bail would risk his security. He will appear in court again on February 3, expected to take a plea, as human rights defenders call for speedy investigations into the matter. They argue that police brutality has become rampant recently, promising to follow the matter to the end to ensure justice is served.