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Can a simple game of pool drive a man to kill his friend in cold blood? Could the stakes be so high that a life is worth less than a win-or is there more than what meets the eye?
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are unravelling the chilling details behind the killing of Amos Lagat, a driver, in Kawangware Nairobi on Sunday night, allegedly gunned down by police officer Mohammed Yusuf Keinan.
Eyewitnesses say the altercation started over a game of pool, an everyday pastime that took a sinister turn. Keinan, who claims to be attached to State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, allegedly shot Lagat seven times in the chest and stomach during the confrontation. The act has left many questioning how a disagreement could escalate to such deadly proportions.
After the shooting, the father of one was taken to the Maria Immaculata Hospital along Gitanga Road, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, and his body was moved to the Chiromo Mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
Keinan reported the matter at the Muthangari Police Station, where he surrendered the weapon and magazine before checking himself into a South C hospital.
Aaron Korir, who had accompanied his brother, Lagat, to the area, told The Standard that he did not know what led to their argument since he was standing outside.
“The officer is always here; every time I visit this area, I find him here, but I have never seen him in police uniform,” he said.
Overcome by emotions, Korir could not offer more information as he was still in shock over the incident that had robbed his family of a breadwinner.
Witnesses describe Lagat and Keinan as familiar faces at the pool table, having played together many times before. On that fateful night, tempers flared, and Keinan, allegedly angered by what he believed was a rigged game, drew his gun and threatened to shoot.
Fatal shots
Lagat briefly managed to disarm him, but as words continued to fly, he returned the weapon. Keinan walked away before Lagat followed suit.
Moments later, Lagat allegedly picked up a stone, that he allegedly wanted to hit Keinan with, which led him to fire the fatal shots.
At Muthangari, Keinan said that he was walking home when he was accosted by three men who sought to rob him of his weapon.
“One of the men struggled and snatched my Ceska pistol S/No. F4899 but I took hold of it by the muzzle and eventually recaptured it back. One of the men blocked me and I shot several times in the air to scare them,” reads his report.
The officer further said that he had incurred a fracture on his left hand and that his left shoulder was injured in the process.
Past threats
A local shopkeeper, Margaret Kamitha, who knew both men described the two friends as calm individuals who shared a tight bond.
According to her, Keinan was urged to let go of the disagreement, but he refused.
“It’s heartbreaking that a life was lost over something as trivial as a game of pool,” she lamented.
Veronica Mumbi, a vendor, recalled the distressing scene, saying Lagat’s lifeless body lay on the road for some time before authorities arrived.
Tensions in the area remained high long after the shooting.
Other residents have come forward, alleging that Keinan had previously threatened to use his firearm during disputes.
As investigations continue, questions linger: Was this a moment of unchecked rage, a case of self-defence, or something far more sinister? One thing is certain—what began as a simple game has ended in a tragedy that has left a community in mourning and a nation searching for answers.
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