Bikers opt for national demo over killing

Purity Karimi, the mother of the slainTharaka Nithi Boda Boda Association boss Willis Mugambi. [Phares Mutembei, Standard]

"He was a county leader who had been entrusted to look after members' welfare and approved by the authority. He was out to bring sanity during the demonstrations," Bwire said.

For two days, tension remained high in Chuka town with riot police deployed to quell demonstrators who were expressing their displeasure of the murders.

Last month, a resident, Daniel Mutembei, was killed, sparking a demonstration that paralysed operation on the busy Meru-Nairobi highway.

Protesters carried his casket and marched in the streets before police were called in to quell the demonstrations. Police lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the rowdy protesters which ended in the death of the boda boda leader, Mugambi.

Mutembei is reported to have been killed by five people well known to the residents.

In light of the events, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki in a communication urged residents to remain calm and promised to investigate the matter until those culpable are brought to book.

"High level investigative teams have been dispatched to Chuka town to take over inquiry and recommend legal action on those found responsible for the death of one person last week as well as a second person shot dead during the demonstrations that caused the blocking of the Embu-Meru Highway most of the afternoon today," Kindiki said.

"Any person(s) at whom evidence will point shall face the course of justice."

Politicians from the region led by Governor Muthomi Njuki, Woman Representative Susan Ngugi and Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki condemned the incident. Njuki urged police to ensure the killers of the two men were brought to book.