This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
Tharaka Nithi Villagers Flee Homes after Government Deploys Red Berets ¶
On April 30, Chief Japheth Mayau Mukengu was killed in a gruesome murder at his brother's home in Tharaka-Nithi. The incident sparked a manhunt, and police officer Joseph Kinyua, the OCS of Chuka, was tasked with hunting down the killers.
According to Eastern Regional Police Commander Esther Kihiko, Kinyua tracked down the suspected killer, David Ikaaba, to Ugweru shopping center, where he was attacked with an axe. Kinyua succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital, and in an attempt to control the situation, police opened fire, killing Ikaaba.
Following Kinyua's death, a contingent of General Service Unit officers, also known as the Red Berets, was deployed to Kamaindi village and Ugweri market in Embu. The deployment led to the villagers fleeing their homes, with stores and shopping centers remaining closed and abandoned.
Armed police officers were patrolling the deserted center, and residents who spoke to the press described the events leading up to Kinyua's death. They stated that a police vehicle parked near a butchery, and three men alighted from the vehicle, walking towards the butchery. Ten minutes later, a commotion was heard, followed by gunshots and screaming.
Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, with five of them arraigned in a Chuka court. The court allowed police to continue holding them for two weeks to conclude investigations.
