Detectives are investigating an incident in which a 70-year-old man was shot dead by a masked gunman who raided his home in Viambani Village, Ganze Sub-County, Kilifi County.
The deceased, Malingi Kiwayi Weru Kauma, was attacked on Tuesday night by a lone assailant who arrived on an unidentified motorcycle and was armed with a suspected short firearm.
According to police, the attacker first asked the deceased’s relative to identify the man before pointing the firearm at him and shooting him once in the mouth.
The bullet reportedly passed through the oral cavity and exited through the right side of the neck. The attacker then fled the scene on the motorcycle.
Police said the deceased was involved in land-sale dealings in Ganze and Kauma sub-counties, although the motive for the killing had not been established.
The body was later moved to Kilifi County Referral Hospital Mortuary, where it is awaiting a postmortem examination.
Police initially did not recover a spent cartridge at the scene, citing darkness. During a subsequent visit, officers recovered a spent cartridge, police said, adding that the motive was not known.
Land disputes have been the leading cause of such murder incidents, police said amid investigations.
A special squad has been tasked with pursuing all reported murder cases in the area, police said on Friday.
Meanwhile, police in Kehancha, Kuria West Sub-County, Migori County, launched investigations after a three-man gang attacked a shop and shot a shopkeeper during a robbery.
The incident occurred on August 10, 2026, at Mama Boke Shop in Kehancha Township.
According to police, the gang, comprising three men, raided the shop where the victim and his wife were serving customers.
The shop also operates an M-Pesa agency.
Police said one of the suspects was armed with a rifle while the other two carried pangas. The gang ordered the victims to surrender their valuables before one of the suspects shot Francis in his right ankle.
The attackers then fled on foot towards Tebesi River.
The victim was rushed to Oasis Hospital in Kehancha Township before being referred to Life Care Hospital in Migori for further treatment.
Police said it was not immediately established what property, if any, was stolen during the incident. Investigations are ongoing to establish the items taken and the victim’s current condition.
Police officers visited the scene.
Three spent 7.62mm by 39mm cartridges were recovered at the scene and preserved as exhibits as detectives pursue the suspects.
Locals have raised concerns over the rise in such attacks in the area and demanded action to address the trend.
