Residents up in arms as thugs gun down KCB rugby player

 

Residents of Kamuteini in Kasarani show their anger yesterday after thugs gunned down a rugby player on Monday night. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Residents of Kasarani yesterday took to the streets to protest against increased insecurity in the area.

The demonstrations followed the death of a Kenya Commercial Bank rugby player on Monday night.

Twenty-two-year-old James Kilonzo was fatally wounded in the chest by the assailants as he withdrew money at an M-Pesa outlet in Kamoteini, Kasarani.

"Kamoteini is like a small Mogadishu and robbers here have imposed a curfew on us. From 6pm-8pm and 5am-6am, we don't move," said Grace Kanya, a resident.

Neighbours said they heard gunshots and rushed to lock their businesses and houses.

But workers and customers at Beauty Junction Salon, adjacent to the M-Pesa shop, witnessed the crime under the glare of bright street lights.

Witnesses said four heavily dressed men tapped James on the back and demanded his phone. They shot him when he turned to face them.

Robbery spree

"One man was lying on the ground. While one hovered around uncertain on the route to take, three just stood at the scene unmoved by what was happening," said one of the women at the salon.

Grace said the robbers had started their mission by attacking a man a few metres away from where James was shot.

"They took away his phone before moving to the M-Pesa shop where James was withdrawing cash. When they demanded his phone, James turned around, but was immediately shot when the robbers realised that he had seen them," said Grace.

Blaming police

The residents blamed the police for laxity in their work despite the increased insecurity in the area during the month as elections near. Area MCA Antony Ngaruya said gunshot and attacks were the order of the day in the Kamoteini Street and his efforts to reach officers to resolve the issue had fallen on deaf ears.

"Every time I hear of an incident, I call the officers and ask them to step up security here, but nothing is resolved," said Jasho.

Police, however, said James Kilonzo was shot at 10:30pm as he entered his residence, which was near an M-Pesa shop.

Kasarani OCPD Robinson Mboloi said Kilonzo was accosted by two armed men who shot him in the chest before fleeing on foot.

"The victim died while undergoing treatment at St Francis Community Hospital," he said.

The Kenya Rugby Union team eulogised James as a future Kenya prospect following a series of good performances over the past two seasons. In his condolence message, the bankers' team manager Ronny Kangetta termed the youngster's demise as a big blow not only to KCB, but the entire rugby fraternity.