Police probe fatal shooting incident over market space dispute

David Nduati, 26, was fatally shot. [iStockphoto]

Police are investigating an incident in which a man was fatally shot during a violent confrontation between rival groups in Thika's Kimuchu area in Kiambu County on Friday evening.

It is reported that David Nduati aged 26 succumbed to gunshot injuries, while 46-year-old Anthony Kamau survived with a bullet lodged in his chest.

The incident happened at a proposed market in Kamenu ward during an event attended by four Members of Parliament (MPs).

The four MPs were host Alice Ng'ang'a, Kimani Ichung'wah (Kikuyu), G. G. Kagombe (Gatundu South) and Njoroge Kururia (Gatundu North).

The event was organised by Ms Ng'ang'a to donate food to a nearby church. But about 200 metres from where the market site is located, area MCA Peter Mburu was supervising the construction of market sheds.

Police reports indicated that violence broke out when two rival groups started pelting each other with stones as Ms Ng'ang'a led her colleagues and a large crowd to the market site.

"After speeches, the dignitaries proceeded to launch the area earmarked for construction of the market where Kamenu MCA Peter Mburu was already on site with about 500 people who were already constructing stalls on the said land," a police report reads in part. "The actual confrontation started when the MP Ng'ang'a and her supporters began erecting a signpost indicating the market would be built."

On Thursday, Mburu had begun allocating slots to traders insisting that the market will be built by the local government to end traders' woes.

Mburu called out unnecessary competition between the national and county governments on the construction of markets, saying the function is a constitutional mandate of devolved units.

Area assistant county commissioner Philomena Nzioki was also injured in the melee. She was treated and discharged at Avenue Hospital Thika. The body of the deceased is lying at General Kago Funeral Home.