Thika police officer fatally shot during motorcycle inspection

A police constable attached to the Special Police Intercept and Verification (SPIV) unit was shot dead on Tuesday evening at Cravers, Thika West Sub County, after a routine inspection of motorcycles turned violent. 

According to eyewitness Rose Makena, the officers were patrolling with three colleagues when they stopped a rider whose motorcycle lacked the unique registration code required for genuine boda boda operators in Thika town.

When one of the officers removed the bike’s ignition key, an argument flared up between the officers and the rider.

The rider overpowered the constable, drew a firearm, and shot him in the throat.

The other officers dove for cover before they could return fire, giving the gunman time to escape.

He ran several meters, commandeered another motorcycle that was ferrying a passenger near Royale Hotel, and sped off—dropping a loaded magazine that was later recovered by crime scene investigators.

The wounded officer was rushed to Thika Nursing Home but succumbed to his injuries.

Thika Divisional Criminal Investigation Officer (DCIO) Jacinta Mbaika confirmed the fatal shooting and said detectives are pursuing the assailant. She promised to issue a comprehensive statement once preliminary investigations are complete.

SPIV officers routinely inspect motorcycles to ensure they display the town’s official identification code an initiative introduced after a surge in robberies by criminals masquerading as boda boda riders.