Detectives in Kabati, Kitui West Constituency have launched an intensive manhunt for a heavily armed gang that tortured and killed a prominent Kabati businessman in a coordinated Saturday night attack.
According to police sources, the assailants—believed to have been travelling in a Subaru—stormed the businessman’s premises shortly after 6pm, overpowering the workers before turning on the victim and his wife. Witnesses say the attackers were armed with guns and appeared highly organized, indicating prior knowledge of the compound and its operations.
The businessman was reportedly held for hours as the gang demanded the whereabouts of an unspecified amount of money. He was found severely injured and later pronounced dead, having succumbed to injuries consistent with prolonged torture.
Confirming the incident, Kauwi Senior Chief Thomas Munyao told a Channel 15 News correspondent that early assessments point to a calculated operation.
“These were armed robbers in a Subaru. They rounded up the workers, restrained the wife and subjected the businessman to torture. This has all the signs of an inside job,” Chief Munyao stated.
The Chief appealed to residents who may have seen the suspicious vehicle to report immediately to investigators at DCI Kabati Police Station, noting that any information—however small—could help crack the case.
“We urge locals who spotted the vehicle to come forward. This was murder most foul, and the killers must face justice,” he said.
Chief Munyao further urged Kabati business owners to heighten vigilance and report unusual activity, adding that local authorities have stepped up patrols in response to the incident.
Police and DCI detectives have since cordoned off the scene, collected forensic evidence, and are reviewing CCTV footage as the hunt for the killers intensifies.
