IPOA Probes Fatal Shooting of Businessman by Police Officer in Nyeri

A police officer has been arrested after a businessman was fatally shot during a confrontation at a petrol station in Karatina, Nyeri County, on Sunday night.

The deceased has been identified as 40-year-old George Gathu Matheri. The shooting occurred during an encounter with two Administration Police officers who were on patrol at the time. According to a report filed at Karatina Police Station, one of the officers alleged that Matheri attempted to seize his service rifle, prompting the officer to fire.

The officer named in the report, Peter Mwangi, stated that he discharged his weapon during a struggle, hitting Matheri in the head and chest. The second officer, Frankline Murangiri, was reported to have suffered a minor injury while attempting to intervene.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) confirmed on Monday that the officer suspected of firing the fatal shots had been taken into custody and would be presented in court. IPOA chairperson Ahmed Issack said a Rapid Response Team from the authority’s Nyeri office had been deployed to investigate the incident.

He appealed to members of the public who witnessed the events to provide statements to assist the inquiry. Witnesses in the area have disputed the police account. Several residents said the confrontation began over a disagreement about parking. One witness reported that an officer ordered Matheri to move his vehicle, which he declined to do.

The situation allegedly escalated into a physical altercation, during which another officer was seen cocking his weapon before shots were fired. Matheri’s widow, Ann Gathu, said the family was seeking clarity on the circumstances that led to his death. She said they were yet to receive a clear explanation of what happened during the encounter.

Following the shooting, unrest was reported in Karatina on Monday morning. Residents blocked parts of the Nairobi–Karatina highway using stones and burning tyres, disrupting transport and forcing several businesses to close. Police later transferred Matheri’s body to Karatina District Hospital mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.

Central Regional Commander Jasper Ombati said the circumstances surrounding the shooting were still unclear. He said that IPOA had taken over the investigation and that its findings would be necessary to establish the facts of the case.

IPOA’s investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to reconcile differing accounts from police and witnesses regarding the events that led to the fatal shooting.