Police have arrested a middle-aged police officer in Taita Taveta County after he shot dead a 36-year-old man who, reports show, was his love rival.
Corporal David Gitahi alias Soldier Boy allegedly killed Esau Juma Mwanguku at 11:35 pm Friday at Rockland nightclub in Taveta Town.
The nightspot’s manager, Francis Chege, reported the shooting incident at Taveta Police Station.
Corporal Gitahi was on patrol when he met Mr. Mwanguku and confronted him for “trying to compete for a government officer in eating from the same pot”.
Both the suspect and the victim were drunk during their confrontation, reports say.
Corporal Gitahi fired a single bullet into the chest of Mr. Mwanguku, killing him on the spot, Mr. Chege said.
Police say circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unestablished, though people familiar with Corporal Gitahi and Mr. Mwanguku claim they were chasing after the same woman, who loved Mr. Mwanguku more than she did the police officer.
The deceased was taken to Taveta Sub-County Hospital mortuary.