Two men shot dead in Tana River attack as father and son arrested over murder

Police in Tana River County arrested a man and his son in connection with a shooting incident in Wolesorea area that left two men dead.

Police said the first victim died at the homestead of a man who is a suspect. The shooting was sparked by a move by the victims to trace their missing camels. It sparked tension in the area amid fears of retaliations.

The second victim, Maulid Yussuf Dayib, who had fled the scene during the initial shooting, was later found hiding in a nearby bush with two gunshot wounds to the chest.

Dayib was discovered in critical condition a few meters from the scene and rushed to Bura Sub-County Hospital for emergency treatment. However, he was pronounced dead on arrival on Wednesday.

Dayib’s death brought to two the number of fatalities in the incident, following the earlier killing of Hussein Sheikh Billow, 47, who was found dead at a homestead in Wolesorea with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Police visited the scene and recovered four spent 7.62mm special cartridges from the homestead of a local. The cartridges were collected as exhibits and are awaiting ballistic examination to help establish the circumstances of the shooting.

The owner of the homestead, and his son, both adults were arrested and are assisting police with investigations.

The shooting is believed to have occurred after Billow and Dayib travelled to the area while searching for missing camels. Preliminary investigations had indicated that the two received a telephone call from a person claiming to have the animals and demanding money for their release.

The pair reportedly proceeded to Wolesorea, where they bought miraa before visiting the suspects’ homestead.

Detectives are pursuing inquiries to establish the motive behind the killings, determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify the person responsible.

The recovered cartridges are expected to undergo ballistic analysis as investigations continue.

Billow and his companion, were searching for their missing camels when they received a telephone call from a person who claimed to have the animals and demanded money for their release.

The two men reportedly travelled by motorcycle to Wolesorea, where they bought miraa before proceeding to the homestead.

At the homestead, the visitors reportedly shared miraa.

Police investigations indicate that around midnight, the hosts retired to bed, leaving Billow and and his colleague outside continuing to chew miraa.

Shortly afterwards, gunshots were heard, and Billow was fatally shot in the chest.

The other companion reportedly fled the scene and is suspected to have sustained gunshot wounds. He later died. The bodies were moved to the mortuary pending other procedures.

A series of meetings were held on Thursday as part of efforts to address the tensions in the area. Local officials assured the affected families of justice.

And a man was found dead in his house in Kiumi Village, Mbooni West Sub-County, Makueni County, after neighbours reportedly detected a foul smell coming from the residence.

The decomposing body of John Kasyoka Waita was discovered on October 21, after officers gained entry into his house by breaking down the door.

The body was found lying on the bed with a swollen head

Preliminary inquiries established that Waita was last seen at Kitundu Market on October 17, four days before his body was discovered.

Family members told investigators that the deceased had been suffering from a chronic illness.

Police secured the scene and conducted a search before the body was moved to Mbooni West County Hospital mortuary, where it awaits a postmortem examination to establish the cause of death.

Investigations are ongoing.