Police in Tharaka Nithi County have vehemently defended the night shooting of a suspected criminal two weeks at advocate Charles Ireri Mugo home in Kirubia area.
Addressing journalists at his office in Chuka town, Meru South Sub County Police Commander David Ngondi denied claims by the deceased that their kin, Lewis Murangiri, 21 years, was of unsound mind.
The deceased mother, Ms Lilian Kanyua, told the media at her home in Ikuu area that her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia at Chuka County Referral Hospital in February 2018 and treated but since then, the problem had been reoccurring.
She said on October 16, 2020, Murangiri who was a bodaboda operator went out of his mind and was taken to the hospital by his friends but did not improve.
The distressed mother added that his son disappeared from home for three days only to learn that he was shot dead by police on suspicion of being a thief.
“My son was not a thief and all the neighbours including the chief and the police officers based at Ikuu post knows very well that he was mentally ill and that he was on medication,” said Ms Kanyua.
Mr Isaac Musyimi, Murangiri’s uncle said his nephew was booked for an appointment at referral hospital yesterday November, 17.
The family is now appealing to Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conduct investigations on murder and make sure that they have been served with justice.
According to Ngondi, a Kirubia resident called the police and informed them that some criminals had attacked the advocate’s home and the officers on duty responded immediately.
He said they found the deceased inside a saloon car that had been parked at the homestead while armed with arrows and when they ordered him to come out he declined.
He said when the officers tried to force him out, he injured one of them with the arrow prompting the shooting.
“Let the family go to court, we are ready to defend our action,” said Mr Ngondi.
He added that the deceased was in the company of some other criminals but they managed to escape.
The family raised concerns about why their son had to remain inside the vehicle where he was not confined by anybody until the police came all the way from Chuka.
“If truly my son was a thief, he could not have waited patiently seated in the car until the police came all the way from Chuka,” argued the mother.
