University student shot dead in club over girlfriend

PHOTO: The bereaved father.

Tension was heightened in Kimilili town, Bungoma county after a club owner shot dead a 22 year old university student at around 3am on Saturday. The deceased was the son of Bungoma's County Education chief officer, David Kibiti.

It was reported the deceased, a second year student at Mombasa University College majoring in Commerce, was shot after an argument between him, other revelers and the pub owner Henry Waswa commonly known as Sonko.

The protracted disagreement was said to be about the deceased student's girlfriend who the club owner tried to seduce unsuccessfully. After failing to seduce the woman, the culprit reportedly started a fight but was overpowered by the revellers. He then went into his car and brought the gun, shooting the deceased multiple times.

Kimilili OCPD Philip Wambugu confirmed the incident saying the culprit shot the student at close range before dropping the gun and fleeing the crime scene. However, he said the police had launched investigations into the incident and were pursuing the suspect who is still at large.

Speaking on the incident, the bereaved father, David Kibiti said his son, who was on vacation, had requested to attend a friend’s birthday bash promising to be back home later. He was however called at around 4 am that his son had been shot dead in a popular night club in Kimilili.

“I rushed to the scene and found a pool of blood as the body had already been taken to Nabwana mortuary where I went thereafter and confirmed that indeed the body was that of my dear son,” he said.

Mr. Kibiti, who wondered how a simple argument could end his son's life, called upon the intelligence service to arrest the shooting suspect.

His sentiments were echoed by area county representative David Barasa who called upon the police and the criminal investigation departments to arrest the culprit wondering if he was even licensed to carry a gun.

“The culprit went and reported the incident at Bungoma police station and why was he not arrested and they claim they are pursuing him now!” he was quoted to have lamented.

Meanwhile, irate Kimilili residents and opportunist looters stormed the club looting beer and other valuables. They were however stopped from burning down the club by police who arrived just on time.