The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has deployed a rapid response team to Karatina, Nyeri County, following the fatal shooting of a local businessman that has sparked furious protests. George Gathu Matheri, a car wash owner and son of a former tea director, was gunned down by police late last night, turning the quiet town into a battlefield.

The incident, which occurred at 11:00 PM at the Rubis Petrol Station, has ignited a firestorm of anger. Residents barricaded the busy Nairobi-Karatina highway with burning tires and boulders for hours, demanding justice for what they term an "extrajudicial execution." Police claim Matheri attempted to snatch an AK-47 rifle from an officer during a patrol, a narrative the family and witnesses vehemently deny.

Detailed Timeline of Terror

According to the police occurrence book (OB), two Administration Police officers were on routine patrol when they confronted Matheri. A scuffle allegedly ensued, leading to the shooting. However, witnesses paint a different picture of a brief verbal alteration followed by four rapid gunshots—two to the head and two to the chest.

• The Suspect: IPOA Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan confirmed that the officer suspected of pulling the trigger has been arrested and is currently in detention. His firearm has been confiscated for ballistic analysis.
• The Aftermath: The shooting triggered immediate unrest. A police Ford Ranger was smashed with stones, and an Isuzu truck parked nearby was torched by the mob. The town remains tense, with heavy GSU presence patrolling the streets to prevent further destruction.
• The Investigation: "We have seized the scene and are collecting forensic evidence," Hassan stated. "We assure the family of independence and fairness. If the officer is found culpable, he will face the full force of the law."

A Pattern of Impunity?

This incident adds to a growing list of police killings that have marred the reputation of the service in Central Kenya. Residents argue that "routine patrols" have become synonymous with harassment and extortion. "They didn't have to kill him," said a distraught relative at the Karatina Hospital mortuary. "They shot him like an animal."

As IPOA investigators comb through the bullet casings and bloodstains at the petrol station, the pressure is on to deliver swift justice. For the people of Karatina, the arrest of the officer is a start, but trust in the uniform has been shattered once again.