Deputy CJ Philomena Mwilu’s driver shot in an attack along Ngong Road

Police officers at the scene where Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu's driver was shot along Ngong Rd opposite Impala club where he bought flowers on Tuesday 24/10/17 [Boniface Okendo,Standard]

The official driver to Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu was Tuesday evening shot and seriously wounded by gunmen who grabbed his pistol and escaped with it in an attack.

Constable Titus Musyoka, was alone at the time of the shooting that happened on the roadside opposite Impala Club along Ngong Road, Nairobi.

Ms Mwilu was not in the car during the incident.

He had dropped the DCJ at her Karen home and drove in her official car to purchase flowers for her rural home when the incident happened at about 5.30 pm, police and witnesses said.

Musyoka was in official uniform when gunmen riding on a motorcycle stopped behind the car and approached him.

Witnesses said the gunmen tried to lure him back to his car when he went for his gun. “When he went for the gun, one of the attackers struck, hitting him once in the mouth and twice in the chest,” said a witness.

Attendants at the flower nursery on the roadside scampered for their safety.

Police said they were yet to know the motive of the attack that come at a time when the court is handling sensitive cases on presidential elections.

After the gang had escaped, one of the attendants called his colleagues and carried Musyoka to the car and drove him to the Nairobi Women’s Hospital, Ngong Road.

He was taken to the theatre to remove a bullet that had been lodged in the chest.

“Unless there is something else, this seem to have been a hit squad that pursued him from a distance. They could also be thugs who saw an opportunity after spotting then Toyota Prado on the roadside and thought it is money,” said an officer aware of the probe.

Deputy inspector general of police Joel Kitili said they were yet to know the motive of the shooting.

“The officer is in hospital and we are pursuing the attackers. We will be able to tell the motive after getting them,” he said.

Senior police officers rushed to the scene and interrogated attendants at the nursery as part of the probe into the shooting.

Inspector general of police Joseph Boinnet visited the hospital and scene.

The Supreme Court where Ms Mwilu is a Deputy President is handling a number of cases on the presidential polls that it nullified on September 1. The repeat polls are expected Thursday this week.