Nyeri businessman murdered as daughter watched helplessly

Nyeri, Kenya: A 46-year-old businessman was Thursday night shot dead by unknown gunmen at Kamuyu village in Nyeri County.

John Mwangi, alias Planner, met his death at midnight after gunmen broke into his house and shot him repeatedly in the presence of his daughter.

"We were about to retire to bed when four men suddenly broke the door of our house and stormed in. My father struggled with them before they shot him," said the daughter, who witnessed the murder while in hiding.

Her screams attracted the attention of relatives and neighbors but none of them dared to go out of their houses for fear of encountering the gunmen.

"Two of the gunmen who killed our loved one are well known to us," said a relative, who sought anonymity.

Nyeri OCPD Charles Rotich said he too heard the gunshots and immediately dispatched officers but it took long for them to establish the exact location.

"No one called the police to report the incident or even provide us with direction," said Rotich.

However, he said they had managed to get crucial leads and were already pursuing four suspects.

Family members and close relatives could hardly contain their grief as police took away the body of the deceased.

Although the motive of the killing has not been established, some family members claim it could have been occasioned by business rivalry.