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An advocate of the High Court who was shot by suspected bandits succumbed to his injuries in hospital hours after the attack on Isiolo-Modogashe Road.
Police said Anthony Gathitu Kabathi, a lawyer with the Kabuthi and Company Advocates law firm in Nairobi was driving back to Nairobi from a client meeting in Wajir when he was attacked near Laga Logo, about five kilometres from a police camp.
He was admitted to hospital in serious condition after he was ambushed and shot by gunmen.
He succumbed to the injuries on Sunday night, a family friend said. The incident happened Sunday morning.
“Sadly and unfortunately we lost Anthony. We are hurt,” the family member who described the deceased as a hard-working man said.
The Law Society of Kenya condemned the attack and demanded action on the gunmen behind it.
LSK President Eric Theuri said Kabathi was shot multiple times by unknown people on his way to Isiolo from Wajir, where he had gone to meet a client.
He said the lawyer was immediately rushed to Galaxy Hospital in Isiolo and later transferred to St. Theresa
Mission Hospital Kiirua in Meru, where he underwent surgery.
“Unfortunately, despite the utmost effort shown by the medical team, he succumbed to the injuries.”
“The Law Society of Kenya calls for an urgent and thorough investigation into the matter. We implore law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in identifying and bringing the perpetrators of this heinous crime to book,” Theuri said.
He said they will closely follow the progress in the investigations and will give necessary support to relevant authorities as may be required in realising justice.
The area of the attack is notorious with marauding bandits.
General Service Unit officers responding to a distress call from the public reported that the lawyer sustained severe gunshot wounds to his chest, left hand, thumb, and left side abdomen during the ambush.
The team was alerted that a man was bleeding in a car that had veered off the road and stalled in a bush.
This was after the gunmen shot at the Landcruiser V8 that Kabathi had and forced him to veer off the road.
The car doors and boot were open and the driver was bleeding helplessly inside.
He was also robbed of an unknown amount of money and other valuables.
The GSU officers arrived at the scene in a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, searched the area, and administered first aid to the lawyer before transporting him to Isiolo Galaxy Hospital where he is said to be in stable condition.
A team of detectives is investigating if the attack was planned and targeted the lawyer who was alone in the car.
Police say the route is usually insecure and warns motorists to be cautious whenever they use it.
Bandits roam the area amid government operations.
The gang targets animals for stealing and moves them to the North Rift area before finding their market.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has been leading an operation in the region to address the menace.
He announced more resources are being channelled to the area to ensure stability.
BY CYRUS OMBATI