A 29-year-old football fan was shot dead after violence erupted during a local tournament match at Matakiri Primary School grounds in Tharaka South Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County.
The fatal incident occurred on Sunday night during a Conference League fixture between UNESCO FC and Embu Prisons Green Berets.
According to police, tensions escalated after UNESCO FC supporters disputed a refereeing decision, insisting their team had scored despite Embu Prisons Green Berets already leading the match 2-0.
The disagreement quickly degenerated into chaos, forcing officials to abandon the match as angry supporters allegedly began pelting stones at players and security officers.
Police said an armed officer who became surrounded by the crowd initially fired three warning shots into the air in an attempt to disperse the mob.
When the crowd allegedly failed to retreat, the officer fired toward the crowd, fatally injuring 29-year-old Denis Mutembei.
Investigators said Mutembei sustained a gunshot wound on the right side of his ribs, with the bullet exiting through the abdomen. He succumbed to his injuries.
The shooting sparked further panic, prompting police officers, prison officers, players and some supporters to seek refuge inside a classroom, where they locked themselves in until additional security personnel arrived.
A multi-agency security team comprising officers from Nkondi Police Station, the Tharaka South Sub-County Police Command, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Administration Police Service, Kenya Prisons officers from Marimanti and reinforcements from Tharaka North later responded to the scene and rescued those trapped.
Police have launched investigations into the circumstances that led to the violence and the fatal shooting.
