By Joshua Cheloti

Police officers in Ruiru, Kiambu County have launched a probe into a Sunday morning incident in the area that saw a man shot dead.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says the 35-year-old man was shot as he confronted thugs who had attacked his girlfriend at Winner’s apartments in Ruiru.

The deceased, who police have since identified as Geoffrey Sigei and his girlfriend Winfred Kairuthi, 34, are said to have arrived at the apartment in two separate vehicles at around 4:30 am, Sunday, September 11, 2022.

It is when arriving that they were confronted by armed thugs.

The apartment’s guard Samuel Wafula told the police that the woman was the first to enter the gate followed by the deceased who was using a Mazda CX5.

“After the vehicles had gone past the main gate, three men forced their way inside, went straight to Winfred’s vehicle and began ransacking it,” DCI says the guard told detectives.

“As the deceased was parking his vehicle, he saw the thugs confronting Winfred and went to her aid, wielding a rungu,” he added.

It was during the confrontation that police believe the armed thugs opened fire.

They shot the deceased in the abdomen as they fled the scene.

DCI notes the sounds of the gunshots attracted the attention of police officers who were on patrol nearby.

Neighbours who had also heard the commotion responded to the incident and rushed the man to RFH hospital in Ruiru.

However, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

DCI says detectives have since established that the deceased and his girlfriend had enjoyed their evening at Ashaki grill in Thome estate and on their way home, had been trailed by a silver Toyota Prado TX that the assailants used as their getaway vehicle.

“Crime scene detectives based at Thika visited the scene and recovered two spent cartridges of 9mm calibre,” said the police investigative agency.

Investigations into the murder have since been launched and detectives are believed to be following crucial leads to unravel the suspects behind the murder incident.