CCTV Exposes Chilling Moments: Cop Shoots Karatina Businessman in Back After Heated Clash
CCTV footage has exposed shocking details in the fatal shooting of Karatina businessman George Gathu Matheri by a police officer after a heated verbal exchange.
The incident, which unfolded on January 18, 2026, near a Rubis petrol station, has ignited public outrage and calls for accountability.
The video evidence provides a clear timeline of events leading to the death and has become central to ongoing investigations.
From the CCTV recording, the confrontation intensified around 11:10 p.m. One of the officers, later identified as Police Constable Peter Mwangi, attached to Karatina Police Station, is seen physically assaulting George Gathu.
The footage shows the officer pointing a firearm at him in what appears to be a threatening manner and striking him on the thighs with the gun.
The altercation began around 11 p.m. when Constable Peter Wamiti Mwangi, attached to Karatina Police Station, engaged in a verbal dispute with 40-year-old businessman George Gathu Matheri.
Eyewitnesses described the exchange escalating into physical assault, with the officer beating Matheri with the butt of his gun before firing at close range.
CCTV Revelations
Footage obtained by NTV Kenya captures the officer pointing his firearm and shooting Matheri multiple times as he tried to walk away, contradicting initial police claims.
The bullet struck George Gathu in the head, just behind the ear. Timestamp details in the footage indicate the shooting occurred at 23:10:52 hours.
The video shows a driver attempting to intervene, but the officers continued the assault, leaving Matheri lifeless on the ground.
This highlights how the CCTV provides a “clear picture” of the shooting from behind at close range.
Residents barricaded the Nairobi-Karatina Highway, vandalized property, and halted business in protest, heightening tensions in Karatina town.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) launched a probe into the fatal shooting, securing the scene for forensic analysis.
Mwangi was arrested and arraigned at Nyeri Law Courts on January 20.
This case underscores ongoing concerns over police brutality in Kenya, with similar incidents drawing scrutiny from oversight bodies. Matheri’s family demands justice, while the public awaits IPOA’s findings amid grief and anger.