Deputy OCPD shoots cashier, injures female alcohol-joint attendant with beer bottle ‘over insufficient bribe’

A youthful man, who works as a cashier at a Kitui alcohol store, is nursing injuries after he was shot in the leg by a senior police officer on Friday, August 21.

Philip Mutunga, who works at Red Carpet wines and spirits joint in Kalundu Market, Kitui Town, claims the deputy area OCPD shot him after he (Mutunga) gave him Ksh3,000 bribe instead of Ksh10,000 that the senior cop had demanded.

The deputy OCPD was allegedly demanding the bribe after he found the joint operating past the government-set 7pm cut-off.

“He came at around 8pm and found our joint open. He said we had flouted Government directives on COVID-19, and that we should give him Ksh10,000 as bribe. We offered him Ksh3,000, which he refused to take. While negotiating with him with the cash in my hands, he whipped out a gun and shot me in the leg,” said Mutunga, who had been discharged after receiving treatment at Kitui Hospital.

Mutunga’s colleague, Nancy Joseph, who works as an attendant at the alcohol joint, alleged that the cop hit her in the head with a beer bottle.

“I did not provoke him, therefore, I don’t understand why he smashed a beer bottle against my head, leaving me with cut injuries,” said Nancy, adding: “I am urging authorities to arrest and prosecute the suspect for causing my colleague and I grievous bodily harm.”

The liquor joint owner, Vincent Musyoka, alleged that the deputy police boss in Kitui Town fired a shot at him, but the bullet missed him.

In the ensuing drama, one of the police officers who was responding to the distress call, accidentally shot himself in the leg, and was taken to Kitui County Referral Hospital for treatment.

Kitui County Police Commander Johana Tonui, however, defended the deputy OCPD saying he (suspect) was defending himself after revellers attempted to harm him.

“He was acting in self-defence, when a stray bullet hit Philip in the leg,” said Tonui, promising in-depth investigations into the incident.