Police officer shoots man dead in quarrel over child custody

A domestic wrangle turned tragic when a man was killed in Muthithi, Kigumo district, following differences over the custody of a child.

Julius Karanja was shot dead by a police officer who had accompanied his wife, Christine Wanjiku, to their house to pick the couple's child.

Mr Karanja is said to have confronted the senior police officer with a machete as he protested the move to have Ms Wanjiku take the child away. The Sunday evening incident sparked tension in the area, with locals demanding investigations into the shooting. They accused the officer of using excessive force on Karanja.

Locals said the couple had been having marital differences that forced the wife to take off. She returned on Sunday for the baby.