A man was shot dead in Katani, Machakos County, on Sunday evening following a violent altercation over a land ownership dispute that has now escalated into community unrest.
The deceased, identified as Samuel Muruiri Maina, was reportedly engaged in a heated confrontation with a group of men over a parcel of land before being fatally shot. Witnesses say the confrontation began as a verbal exchange but quickly turned physical, leading to the tragic shooting.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the armed suspect, who was in the company of another man, appeared to be intimidating local land brokers before chaos erupted. When members of the public intervened, the gunman began firing in the air, sending people scattering in panic. The scene quickly descended into confusion, with some residents recording the ordeal on their phones.
Moments later, the victim was found lying on the ground with severe gunshot wounds. A resident who witnessed the shooting narrated that the armed men seemed intent on scaring away locals who had gathered near the disputed plot. Another witness said the shooter fired several rounds to disperse the crowd before escaping from the scene.
Efforts to rush the victim to hospital proved futile as he succumbed to his injuries on the way. The incident triggered outrage among residents, who responded by torching a vehicle believed to have been used by the suspects. They accused the shooters of acting on behalf of powerful individuals in the area who have been embroiled in a long-standing land ownership battle.
The victim’s family has since called for justice, claiming that Samuel was lured into a trap after being summoned for a “discussion” regarding the land. His brother alleged that the meeting had been arranged under false pretenses, with no warning that the individuals involved were armed.
Police have launched an investigation into the shooting and confirmed that one person of interest linked to the dispute has been arrested and detained at Mavoko Police Station. Authorities have urged calm as they continue probing the circumstances surrounding the killing.
The violent incident has once again drawn attention to the rising number of fatal land-related conflicts in Machakos and neighboring counties, where disputes over property boundaries and ownership continue to claim lives and destabilize communities.
