A Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer was arrested on Sunday for shooting dead two boda boda riders near Makongeni Police Station after an altercation following a minor accident involving his car and a motorcycle.

According to Kamenu Stages Boda Boda Association Chairperson Wilson Kibe, one of his members was hit from behind by a personal car with one occupant, prompting him to stop and assess the damage.

Kibe said that as the two parties discussed how to resolve the matter, more riders gathered at the scene. 

The motorist, who was armed, allegedly dared them to torch his car.

During the altercation, the officer opened fire, fatally shooting two men aged 38 and 39, both boda boda operators from the Makongeni area. 

Their deaths sparked outrage, with angry residents torching and vandalising the officer’s car despite efforts by police to calm the crowd.

Confirming the incident, Thika West Sub-County Police Commander Lawrence Muchangi said that when officers arrived at the scene, the driver of the car appeared drunk, rowdy, and armed.

He became violent, refused to be disarmed, and unfortunately shot two innocent bystanders who later died.

The suspect, who was later identified as a DCI officer previously stationed in Thika before being transferred to Nairobi, was arrested and disarmed by traffic officers before being escorted to Thika Police Station. 

His firearm was retained as an exhibit.

The two bodies were moved to General Kago Mortuary, while the charred wreckage of the car was towed to Makongeni Police Station.

The torching of the car comes barely a fortnight after a matatu belonging to Super Metro Sacco was set ablaze in Juja by angry boda boda operators after one of their colleagues was killed by the vehicle.