A man identified only as ‘Kiringa’ was shot dead by Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers after breaking into an armoury at Gatare Forest Station in Kigumo, Murang’a County.
According to an OB report, the incident occurred at about 12:05pm on Saturday after the man attempted to retrieve a motorcycle that had earlier been seized by KFS officers.
The suspect had reportedly been spotted illegally cutting Mtondo trees at Ngitwe Forest Station.
When KFS officers intervened, he fled on foot, leaving behind his red Ranger motorcycle.
The motorcycle was seized and taken to Gatare Forest Station, where it was secured inside the station’s armoury.
About an hour later, officers reportedly heard a commotion coming from inside the armoury.
Upon checking, they found Kiringa had broken into the facility and was attempting to retrieve his motorcycle.
The officers reportedly challenged him to identify himself, but according to the OB report, he became violent and charged towards the Rangers while armed with a panga and a claw hammer.
The Rangers fired four warning shots into the air in an attempt to stop him, but he reportedly continued advancing towards the officers.
One of the Rangers then shot him in the right upper thigh in an attempt to subdue him.
The scene was subsequently processed, with officers recovering the rifle allegedly used during the incident, a magazine containing 25 rounds of 7.62×39mm ammunition, two spent cartridges, the motorcycle, a panga, a claw hammer and debris from the damaged armoury door.
A search of the suspect’s body allegedly recovered Ksh250 in cash, a mobile phone, a roll of marijuana, used matchboxes and a Supermatch cigarette.
The body was moved to the Kigumo Sub-County Hospital Mortuary pending an autopsy.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kigumo are handling investigations into the incident.
