A police constable attached to the Special Police Intercept and Verification (SPIV) unit was fatally shot on Tuesday evening in Cravers, Thika West Sub-county, following a violent confrontation with a boda boda rider during a routine inspection.
Eyewitnesses reported that the officer and three colleagues had stopped a motorcycle for inspection when they discovered it lacked the mandatory unique registration code required for boda boda operators in Thika town. Rose Makena, a bystander, stated that tensions escalated when one of the officers confiscated the bike’s ignition key.
Peter Kariuki, another witness, added that the rider—who was eating a pineapple at the time—suddenly turned violent.
“The rider overpowered the officer, pulled out a gun, and shot him in the throat,” Kariuki said. The other officers took cover, allowing the assailant to flee.
The gunman ran several metres before hijacking another motorbike near Royale Hotel, forcing off the rider and a female passenger at gunpoint.
Martin Mburu, the rider whose bike was stolen, recounted: “A man suddenly jumped out, pointed a pistol at us, and ordered us off the bike.”
The suspect sped off but later abandoned the motorcycle near a Mugumo tree.Police recovered a loaded magazine dropped during the escape.
The wounded officer was rushed to Thika Nursing Home but died from his injuries. Thika DCIO Jacinta Mbaika confirmed the incident, stating that detectives are pursuing the suspect.
“We will issue a detailed report once investigations are complete,” she said.
The SPIV unit conducts regular motorcycle checks to curb robberies by criminals posing as boda boda riders.
Thika has seen increased security measures, including unique bike codes, to identify legitimate operators.
Authorities urge anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts to come forward.
