Man in fatal shooting was under probe

The man who was shot dead inside his car at Nairobi’s Mirema Drive estate was being investigated for involvement in criminal activities.

He was also being investigated for heading a gang that  was known for, among other things, administering stupefying drugs to patrons in clubs before stealing from them.

Police say Samuel Mugo Mugota, 49, who hails from Embu county, used stolen phones to access and withdraw money from bank accounts of victims.

Mugo, alias ‘Keupe’, had earlier been arrested by officers from the defunct Flying Squad from Pangani and Kasarani police stations in Nairobi and charged in court, according to sources.

Big syndicate

“The man headed a big syndicate that mostly involved women, who would be used to spike revellers’ drinks before stealing from the customers,” an officer who sought anonymity said.

Kasarani Sub-County Police Commander Peter Mwanzo yesterday said the man was shot shortly after he dropped off his daughter from school on Monday afternoon.

Mwanzo said detectives were interrogating a man and a woman over the 4pm incident.

He was shot at least six times, according to the police. Eye witnesses, however, said the lone gunman appeared to have known the victim and that it is suspected he could have been a security officer.

“We are interrogating two people with a view to establishing the people behind the fatal shooting and also the motive,” the police commander said.

Our police sources, however, told People Daily that Mugo was on detectives’ radar over SIM swapping and ‘wash wash’ racket.

He was shot while on a driver’s seat of a Honda CRV car. The gunman then drove away from the scene to an unknown destination.

According to eyewitnesses, the smartly dressed gunman was driving a Toyota Premio and had concealed his face using a cap. He allegedly confronted the man and shot him four times.

As he was leaving, he realised his victim was not dead and made a few steps back before shooting him twice, again, killing him on the spot.

The shooting came just five hours after another convict Joseph Mwangi, 25, was shot dead in Kioi area of Kayole in Nairobi by unknown gunmen. 

Mwangi was fatally shot along the Soweto-Kayole road at around 9am.

“He was well known and had been charged several times in court and convicted. Investigations have been launched to establish the motive of the killing,” Mwanzo said.