The family of Nicholas Mwangi claims that the alleged armed robber was framed by police after being shot four times.
33-year old Mwangi is currently nursing his wounds at Nyeri County Referral Hospital, under police guard.
According to Nyeri County Critical Installations Police Unit (CIPU) Commander Mohammed Alike who pulled the trigger, he “shot a gangster at Standard Chartered Bank” after calling in to report that two people had tried to rob him at gunpoint outside the bank.
Mwangi, an employee of Stema Engineering, however, was the technician servicing the generator and work was scheduled to be done on night he was shot. Stema Managing Director confirmed the same, even as Mwangi’s family demanded the officer’s arrest.
“Stema had sent Mwangi to the bank branch and some of the work needed to be done after closure of the bank that is why it extended into the night,” Thuku explained to journalists.
A fake pistol was found at the scene. Police had claimed two individuals on a motorcycle aimed at him, prompting the officer to open fire.
Mwangi’s family, however, believes that the fake firearm was planted at the scene as part of a larger cover-up by the Police. Police have stated that they were yet to establish who possessed the fake firearm.
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“My brother was legitimately working and the claims that he attempted to rob the officer are false. He shot an innocent man and tried to frame him,” Boniface Njuki, Mwangi’s brother, told reporters.
Mwangi reportedly had dinner at a restaurant in the area before hopping on a motorcycle and heading to the bank to service the generator at around 8 p.m.
The officer, who is said to have been off-duty, had parked his personal vehicle outside the bank. What happened next remains unclear, but Alike got into a confrontation with Mwangi and the motorbike rider, and discharged his fire-arm, leaving Mwangi with gunshot wounds including on both legs.
The rider was arrested and the officer later reported the incident as a foiled robbery at Nyeri Central Police Station.
The officer’s fire-arm, a Berretta M9AI pistol, was confiscated by police for a ballistics exam.
It remains unclear if police will level any charges against Mwangi. Meanwhile, Mwangi’s family is demanding the unconditional release of their kin and the arrest of the senior officer who shot him.
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