A middle-aged man in his 40s died on Monday morning in his kiosk in Majengo, Kitui town in Kitui County. According to reports, the man identified as Issah died under unclear circumstances.
Some of the residents who sought anonymity alleged that he might have been killed by police who threw tear gas canisters in his kiosk where he reportedly locked himself fearing the police.
“Today at around 6:40 am I got a phone call from Assistant Chief of Majengo Location informing me that there is a body lying in a kiosk. Officers rushed to the scene and on arrival they confirmed that there was a dead body lying there.” Chrispin Ogutu Kitui sub-county police commander said.
Ogutu confirmed that the body was later taken to Kitui Level 5 Mortuary waiting for post-mortem.
“The matter has been subjected to the investigation because on close scrutinization of the scene we were able to recover a teargas canister and the case is now with the DCI and we will be giving an update in the due cause,” Ogutu added.
The residents claimed that police were on Sunday night spotted at the deceased home looking for him and later came to Majengo shopping center where later the body was found lying on the Kiosk that the man used to sell miraa.
A section of residents who claimed that they are drug users said that they are now fearing for their lives since the police have been threatening them.
“Police come and collects money from us then they leave, let them take the money and leave, and not this thing we have witnessed here; its January and we are struggling to feed our families,” a resident lamented.
Majengo area has been one of the areas in Kitui with high crime rates despite having a police post near the main shopping center. The residents staged demonstrations but were later calmed by the police.
