Kitale, Kenya: A commercial photographer was on Wednesday gunned down by suspected thugs as his wife watched in Maziwa estate in Kitale.
Denis Otieno, who was in his late 20s was shot thrice and lost his life after two men reportedly armed with AK-47 assault rifle and a panga made the attack.
Otieno's wife Winnie Atieno was drawing water from a tap inside a compound they are living when the three men confronted her and ordered her to lead them to their room.
Otieno who had sensed danger unsuccessful tried to restrain the thugs from entering the bedroom using a wooden sofa-set.
According to Atieno, the men shot her husband on the head and neck at close range before ransacking the house looking for valuable items.
"I was outside the house drawing water when the men riding on a motorcycle alighted and walked straight to where I was and ordered me to lead them to the house. Inside the house, they warned me and my sister in-law against screaming as they attacked my husband," said Atieno of the 11 pm incident.
Atieno who is expectant said the men also slapped her and her sister in-law before taking away their mobile phones and a TV set.
"I suspect that this is a planned assassination because I could identify one of the men as a close friend to my husband," Atieno revealed.
Residents led by area Chief Julius Onyancha streamed to the compound after Otieno's neighbours raised alarm moments after the criminals escaped.
Addressing the residents, Onyancha called for calm as police stepped in to investigate the murder.
"We suspect that the people behind this killing know the deceased and I urged the public to provide police with information to help seize the culprits," the administrator said.
County police commander Mrs Lillian Okembo said investigations has been launched to establish the motive of the killing.
"We are probing the killing and are asking any member of the public with information in connection with the incident to provide to us," she urged.
