The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
A 38-year-old man was fatally shot by police in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area after allegedly stealing a mobile phone, threatening bystanders with a sword, and later attacking officers.
Police say the incident unfolded on Tuesday evening along 1st Avenue in Eastleigh. According to a report filed by a resident, the suspect allegedly snatched his Samsung A12 phone, valued at Sh16,000, while the victim was seated outside a shop, before fleeing the scene.
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When the complainant tried to retrieve his phone, the suspect allegedly pulled out a sword and threatened anyone who came near him. The confrontation drew a crowd, some of whom began throwing stones at the suspect, forcing him to flee toward the Air Base Police Post as members of the public chased after him.
At the police post, the suspect allegedly turned on officers and attacked them while still armed. Police fired two warning shots into the air, but when the suspect reportedly ignored the warnings and continued advancing, officers shot him, resulting in fatal injuries.
A kitchen knife, a Somali sword, and the stolen phone were recovered at the scene and held as evidence. Crime scene investigators documented the area before the body was taken to the Nairobi Funeral Home (City Mortuary) pending a post-mortem. Investigations are ongoing.
Nairobi police boss Issa Mohamud said authorities have ramped up operations targeting mobile phone theft rings across the city, with at least eight suspects arrested in a separate operation on Wednesday. According to police, stolen devices are typically refurbished before being resold to unsuspecting buyers both locally and in neighboring countries, and efforts to dismantle these criminal networks remain ongoing.
Body Found in Ditch Near River Isulu, Kakamega
Separately, police in Kakamega County have opened investigations after the body of an unidentified man was discovered in a ditch near River Isulu, in what is being treated as a suspected murder.
Police said members of the public alerted officers at Shirere Police Post on Tuesday after spotting the body. Officers who responded to the scene in Shieywe Sub-location, Sichirai Location, found the remains of an African male, believed to be in his mid-30s, lying face down in an advanced state of decomposition inside a 20-foot-deep ditch along a stream.
The body bore visible head injuries, and investigators noted disturbed vegetation near the edge of a nearby cliff, suggesting the man may have fallen from above. A mobile phone and wallet were recovered at the scene and retained as evidence to support the investigation.
After documenting the scene, crime scene investigators had the body moved to Kakamega County General Hospital Mortuary, where it awaits identification and a post-mortem examination. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death, working to determine both his identity and what led to the incident.
