The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) launches investigations into a fatal shooting incident involving police officers from Karatina Police Station, Nyeri County, on January 18, 2026.
In a statement, IPOA chairperson Issack Hassan says the investigations will centre on the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of George Gathu Matheri, after an alleged brief confrontation with the officers.
IPOA has now moved in to investigate an alleged shooting incident at Karatina, in Nyeri county where one person lost his life. Reports from IPOA indicate that during the 18th January incident at around 11 pm, George Gathu Matheri is said to have had a confrontation with police officers on patrol before being fatally shot.
Following the incident, aggrieved residents barricaded the Nairobi-Karatina highway and paralyzed the smooth flow of traffic, while at the same time vandalizing nearby businesses.
A rapid response team from the regional office in Nyeri has been dispatched to commence investigations and gather all relevant intel to establish the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.
The scene of crime has since been seized to collect crucial evidence for forensic and ballistic analysis.
While condoling with the family of the late Matheri, the authority is appealing to members of the public to be calm and any eye witness to present any information that may aid the ongoing investigations.
