Police officer shoots politician dead

A police officer was Sunday morning arrested after he allegedly shot and killed a politician.

Reports indicate that Constable Edward Manjalu shot Mr William Mwangi outside U-Turn bar in Limuru Town, Kiambu County.

Mr Manjalu was attached to the Flying Squad unit at Tigoni police station before he was recently transferred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation headquarters.

BEER BOTTLE
According the bar’s management, Mr Mwangi, a building and construction engineer who unsuccessfully vied for Lari Kirenga ward representative seat, was with his friends when the officer took a bottle of beer bought by the group without their consent.

Consequently, Mr Mwangi and his friends, who were watching a football match, were irked by the action.

They told the officer that he would only enjoy the drink if he was ready to pay for it, leading to a heated argument.

"The problem started when the gentleman demanded to take one of the bottles of beer we had bought but we asked him to pay for it.

"He asked us if we knew who he was but we told him we are a free country guarded by law," one of Mr Mwangi's friends, who requested for anonymity, said.

CONFRONTED
According witnesses, a confrontation ensued that escalated to a fist fight between the group and the officer, and which left the latter with injuries on his face.

Mr George Karuga, the bar manager, said the establishment's security team threw the officer out to restore calm.

However, when Mr Mwangi, who lost during the Jubilee Party primary, was leaving, he was confronted by Constable Manjalu who was in the company of unknown people.

ARRESTED

When Mr Mwangi got into his car, Constable Manjalu shot him twice.

Confirming the incident, Limuru Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer Mwenda Itheiba said the officer has been arrested and is being detained at Tigoni police station.

"The officer is in custody to help us with investigations," Mr Itheiba told journalists.