A licensed firearm holder has been arrested after allegedly shooting and killing a 25-year-old liquor delivery man following an argument in the Thome area of Nairobi.
The victim, identified as Joel Austin Macharia Maina, was shot in the head in the early hours of Thursday, around midnight.
Police reports indicate that the fatal shooting occurred inside a Land Rover Defender parked at a petrol station where Maina was delivering liquor.
According to police, the suspect claimed that an argument broke out between him and Maina inside the vehicle.
He alleged that Maina attempted to grab his firearm, resulting in a struggle that led to the gun going off "accidentally."
However, Kasarani Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer Alloyce Mboya confirmed that the bullet entered through the left side of Maina’s head and exited on the right, suggesting a close-range shot.
Maina was found in the driver’s seat of the suspect's car, with blood visibly covering the area.
Following the incident, the suspect reportedly fled the scene but was later arrested by police.
He is being held at Kasarani Police Station and is expected to appear at Makadara Law Courts, where investigators will request more time to complete their inquiries.
The shooting sparked protests in the area as residents demanded justice for Maina.
Locals blocked roads using stones and lit bonfires, calling attention to what they described as a senseless killing.
Maina’s mother, Caroline Naserian, is demanding accountability.
“All I want is justice for my son,” she said.
Maina worked as a delivery man for a liquor store at the petrol station where the shooting occurred. At the time of the incident, he was reportedly delivering alcohol to the suspect.
Investigators say they have detained the suspect’s vehicle and plan to retrieve CCTV footage from the petrol station, liquor store, and a nearby chemist to aid the investigation. Several witnesses are also being questioned.
Lawyer Njanja Maina from the Law Society of Kenya visited the scene and confirmed they would be supporting the family during the legal process.
Maina’s body was taken to City Mortuary, where a postmortem will be conducted.
