Tension erupted in Katani, Machakos County, on Sunday after a dispute over land ownership turned deadly, leaving one man shot and killed.
The deceased, identified as Sammy, was a well-known land broker in the area. Witnesses say he was engaged in a conversation with two individuals when the exchange escalated into a confrontation that ended tragically.
A video seen by Kenyans.co.ke shows a man holding a gun sprinting away from an angry crowd while pointing the weapon and warning people not to follow him. The recording is believed to have been captured moments after Sammy was shot.
Residents who were nearby said the two armed men had been intimidating the broker before members of the public intervened. One eyewitness narrated, “I found them threatening the land broker while armed. When the crowd gathered to find out what was happening, one of the men began firing shots into the air.”
Another resident added that the shooter continued releasing bullets as the crowd attempted to pursue and detain him over the killing. “They tried to scare everyone away with gunfire, but people wanted them held responsible,” the witness explained.
The chaotic scene unfolded quickly. “We heard gunshots for several minutes. Then we saw Sammy arriving on a motorbike. He was badly injured,” another local recounted.
A good Samaritan offered his pickup truck to rush the victim to the hospital. Unfortunately, Sammy succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
His death triggered anger and violent protests from locals who had witnessed the events. They accused the armed men of targeting the broker over an ongoing land dispute.
Sammy’s brother has since alleged that he was lured into the meeting under false pretenses. He claims the deceased did not know the individuals he was summoned to meet were carrying weapons.
As fury spread in the area, residents set fire to the vehicle the suspects had reportedly used to travel to Katani.
Police say preliminary investigations have traced the conflict back to a local landowner believed to have been behind the threats directed at the broker. The individual linked to the dispute has since been arrested and is being held at the Mavoko Police Station as detectives continue with investigations.
The shooter and his accomplice are still on the run, and residents are now demanding justice and tighter security around ongoing land disputes in the region.
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