Gabriel Kagombe, the Member of Parliament for Gatundu South Constituency, has been apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting of a boda boda rider during a violent altercation in Thika two weeks ago.
Resila Onyango, the spokesperson for the National Police Service, confirmed Kagombe’s arrest on Friday evening. Onyango stated that the MP had evaded authorities since the incident, but was eventually located by police officers in the Kileleshwa area.
The incident occurred 11 days prior when two groups of politicians and their supporters clashed over a market project in Thika town. The confrontation quickly escalated, resulting in the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old boda boda rider and injuring another individual.
The violence erupted during a ceremony intended to inaugurate the construction of a new market. Several MPs, including National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, the host Alice Ng’ang’a, GG Kagombe (Gatundu South), and Njoroge Kururia (Gatundu North), were in attendance.
The situation became chaotic when area MCA Peter Mburu was overseeing the construction of sheds, igniting tensions among the assembled supporters.
Amidst the chaos, an MP allegedly drew his pistol and fired multiple shots into the crowd. This reckless act resulted in the death of Nduati and caused injuries to others, including 46-year-old Anthony Kamau, who sustained a bullet wound in his chest.
Following the incident, DCI officers conducted ballistics tests on all firearms present at the scene. Preliminary investigations revealed that the weapon which discharged the fatal bullet belonged to Kagombe.
Subsequently, DCI officers launched a manhunt for Kagombe, who managed to evade capture for several days. However, his attempts to conceal himself came to an end when he was located and arrested in Kileleshwa.
The MP will now spend the weekend in police custody as investigations continue.
Other MPs present during the altercation, including National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Gatundu North MP Elijah Njoroge Kururia, were also required to surrender their firearms for forensic examination. It remains uncertain whether any additional charges will be levied against these lawmakers.
Police announced that Kagombe will be arraigned at the Kiambu Law Courts on Monday, June 3. It remains unclear whether anyone else will face charges related to the tumultuous incident.
