‘He told me run, I’m already crippled, let me die’: Man recounts last moments of tycoon shot by a***d men

A Samburu businessman in his late 40s was on Thursday night (March 27) shot dead by bandits at Loruko Village.

Livingstone Nyota, a well-known tycoon in northern Samburu, was on his way to view a business site in Longorin, when armed bandits began trailing him. Nyota was driving in his vehicle in the company of a friend, Adam Mohamed.

Mohamed recounts to K24 Digital the events that preceded Nyota’s killing.

“Upon reaching Loruko Village, we were ambushed by three armed bandits, who ordered that we stop. Nyota, however, accelerated. It was then that the bandits began spraying bullets into our vehicle. Nyota continued to drive. However, we reached a sharp cliff, and our car rolled over. Upon landing on the base of the hill, Nyota, who was badly injured from the accident and the shooting, told me: ‘run for your life as the bandits are likely to come here. I can’t escape because I am already crippled after a shot they fired hit me’.” said Mohamed.

“It was then that I escaped through the co-driver’s door, and ran to a nearby police station, where I reported the incident,” added Mohamed.

Police attached to Maralal post arrived at the scene and found Nyota had already succumbed to his injuries.

The bandits, who had gone to the scene, stole money and fired another shot in Nyota’s body before fleeing, preliminary investigations revealed.

The deceased was taken to Maralal County Referral Hospital morgue as a hunt for his killers is launched.

Nyota was a popular transport business proprietor in Samburu County. His commercial buses operated in volatile areas such as Baragoi and other parts of northern Samburu.

“He was a kind-hearted man, who uplifted the community he lived in. I remember him offering free transport services to students travelling between Baragoi and Maralal areas. He also allowed his buses to transport the elderly at no cost,” a Loruko Village resident told K24 Digital.

Samburu North OCPD, Tom Makori, confirmed the incident, urging residents to keep calm as authorities search for Nyota’s killers.

“I personally knew Nyota to be a very goodhearted man, and we shall ensure that we bring his killers to book. I urge residents to refrain from entertaining any urge that would push them to retaliate the fatal attack,” said Makori.

Samburu North MP, Alois Lentoimaga, said the National Government, through the Interior Ministry, has failed in its quest to disarm illegal firearm holders in Samburu, particularly Baragoi.

“It is because of that failure that we are witnessing preventable deaths occurring in the area,” the legislator told K24 Digital, adding: “I have, for the past three years, advocated for serious disarmament exercise in Samburu, but my please fell on deaf ears.”

Sending his condolences to Nyota’s family, the lawmaker said he would not be able to attend Nyota’s burial, given funeral activities have been limited to family members only as the Government attempts to curb the spread of COVID-19. At least 31 people in Kenya have tested positive for the virus.