CCTV footage has surfaced showing the the fatal shooting of Nyeri businessman George Gathu by a police officer on Sunday night, leading to violent protests that brought Karatina town to a standstill.
The footage shows the incident unfolding at a petrol station, where an argument between Gathu and police officers escalated shortly before the shooting.
The video evidence provides a clear timeline of events leading to the death and has become central to ongoing investigations.
From the CCTV recording, the confrontation intensified around 11:10 p.m. One of the officers, later identified as Police Constable Peter Mwangi, attached to Karatina Police Station, is seen physically assaulting George Gathu.
The footage shows the officer pointing a firearm at him in what appears to be a threatening manner and striking him on the thighs with the gun.
CCTV Captures Final Moments Of George Gathu
George Gathu walked away from the scene as the situation appeared to de-escalate.
Moments later, two police officers are seen following him as they exchange words. Seconds after Gathu had distanced himself from the confrontation, one officer fired a single shot at close range, estimated to be less than 10 metres.
The bullet struck George Gathu in the head, just behind the ear. Timestamp details in the footage indicate the shooting occurred at 23:10:52 hours.
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An eyewitness who spoke to the media stated that the officer had cocked his firearm several minutes before following the deceased, an action they say demonstrated intent.
After the shooting, members of the public began milling at the scene. The footage shows the officer standing near the body briefly before walking away.
Witnesses reported that the officers later made a phone call and left as public attention intensified.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Following the incident, Police Constable Peter Mwangi was arrested and arraigned before a Nyeri court.
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Investigators sought to detain him for 21 days, citing public anger and concerns for his safety. The court ordered that the officer be held in custody for 14 days to allow the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to complete investigations.
The court noted that although the suspect could be eligible for bail, detention was necessary at this stage due to concerns over witness interference and security risks.
Investigators are yet to conduct a post-mortem examination on Gathu’s body and to complete forensic analysis of the firearm allegedly used in the shooting.
The officer is expected to return to court on February 3, when he is scheduled to take a plea.
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