Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi claims he was the main target of the dramatic Thika shooting that happened on Friday, May 17, 2024.
The shooting that took place in Thika’s Kimuchu area in Kiambu County occurred after a political gathering attended by four Members of Parliament from the region, turned violent.
The incident saw David Nduati aged 26 succumb to gunshot injuries, while 46-year-old Anthony Kamau survived with a bullet lodged in his chest.
Governor Wamatangi now says the shooter was targeting him.
Wamatangi who was speaking at an event in Kiambu said the perpetrators of the incident thought he would attend the event.
“Kama gavana nimesema waziwazi kuwa sitakubali watu wangu kupigwapigwa risasi hapa. Hiyo ni mambo ilikuwa inafanyika wakati wa ukoloni. Kama ni gavana mnatafuta mnikujie.
“Najua wamekuwa wakijaribu kunisumbua kila saa….Najua hiyo vitu mnafanya ni mimi mnalenga…Mlikuwa mnafikiria nitakuwa hiyo kiganjo ndo mkakuja kama mmejipanga,” Governor Wamatangi said.
Area MP Alice Ng’ang’a hosted Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), G. G. Kagombe (Gatundu South) and Njoroge Kururia (Gatundu North) for a food donation event at a church located in the area.
Thika violence
According to police reports, area MCA Peter Mburu was supervising the construction of market sheds at a market site located about 200 meters away from the church event.
Violence broke out when two rival groups started pelting each other with stones as Ng’ang’a led her colleagues and a large crowd to the marketplace.
Mburu had begun allocating slots to traders insisting that the market would be built by the local government to end traders’ woes.
It is in the middle of the violence that one of the Ng’ang’a’s event attendees drew a gun and shot at the victims.
The chaos also led to the injury of area assistant county commissioner Philomena Nzioki, who was treated and discharged at Avenue Hospital Thika.
The deceased’s body was preserved at General Kago Funeral home as the police continued with investigations.
Call for justice
Political leaders from the region have condemned the incident and demanded justice for the victims.
Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni on Monday, May 20, 2024, said officials of the Limuru III Conference have agreed to set up a team of lawyers to represent the victims.
The shooting happened the same day as the Limuru III Conference.
Before you go…how about joining our vibrant Telegram and WhatsApp channels for hotter stories?
Telegram: https://t.me/k24tvdigital
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaKQnFUIXnljs50pC32O
