Businessman kills mason over gate
A businessman found himself disarmed and arrested after he allegedly shot and killed a man he accused of stealing his gate in the Athi River area of Machakos County.
According to the police, the suspect, who holds a valid firearm license, is charged with the murder of Samuel Mwangi Maina, a mason who worked for him at a construction site in the Flight View area.
As per a police report, a boda boda rider informed officers that Mwangi had hired him to take him to the site on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
When they arrived, Mwangi called the owner of the compound, who turned out to be the businessman. He showed up with another man by his side.
The boda boda rider recounted to the police that the businessman grabbed Mwangi by the neck, demanding to know the whereabouts of his gate. Meanwhile, the other man began to physically assault Mwangi.
The businessman allegedly pulled out his firearm and threatened to shoot Mwangi, according to police reports. At that moment, the other assailant seized the weapon and fired two shots into the ground, warning Mwangi that he would be shot if he didn’t reveal where he had hidden the missing gate.
The sound of gunfire drew the attention of nearby residents, who rushed to the scene to see what was going on. Realizing that a crowd was gathering, the businessman and his accomplice fled the scene to escape the angry mob.
The crowd was relentless in their pursuit. According to the police, the businessman managed to regain control of his firearm and fired shots, striking Mwangi in the chest.
Mwangi was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital, but sadly, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
When officers finally got to the scene, they found an angry crowd gathered around. The police acted swiftly to pull the businessman from the mob. He was disarmed and taken into custody as the investigation into the tragic shooting got underway.
Authorities are also on the lookout for another suspect who allegedly participated in the assault on Mwangi and fired shots into the ground during the altercation.
The police collected evidence from the scene and took statements from witnesses, while locals called for justice for the fallen mason.
There has been a worrying increase in cases of licensed firearm holders misusing their weapons, despite ongoing efforts to address this issue.
Law enforcement officials assure the public that they have measures in place to handle such incidents, with many similar cases currently making their way through the courts.
According to police records, there are roughly 15,000 licensed firearm holders in Kenya. Each individual goes through a thorough vetting process before they can receive a permit to own a weapon.
Businessman kills mason over gate
