Murder or suicide? Former governor candidate found dead in car

Police are investigating the death of a former Tharaka Nithi governor candidate Gitare Mbiuki who was found dead in his car of a gunshot wound to the head.

It is suspected the businessman was either murdered or died by suicide.

Mbiuki was found dead in his car parked by the roadside at Kanyuambora area, more than 50km from his Weru home in Tharaka Nithi.

Police said preliminary findings show he shot himself in his car. But the motive has not been established. Other theories indicated he was killed and a ‘suicide’ was staged. 

The bullet entered below the right ear and exited slightly above the left eye.

Police recovered a Forjas Taurus pistol with eight rounds of ammunition in the car.

Authorities said the gun was found on the deceased’s chest, above his left hand.

A spent cartridge was also recovered from the scene. The body was moved to Tenri Ena Hospital mortuary pending autopsy. 

Police said investigations are ongoing. Mbeere North police commander Eric Yego said the politician’s family had confirmed that the deceased was a licenced gun holder.

“We don’t know for now how he died but we are investigating for now,” he said.

There were, however, blood stains on the side of his four-wheel drive vehicle.  The family told police the deceased left his home on Monday at around 3pm.

They tried to reach him on the phone two hours later but their calls went unanswered.

The family was then reported at a police station in Tharaka Nithi before embarking on a search for their relative.

The police boss said residents confirmed to have seen the vehicle parked at the scene but they did not suspect anything.

Only six months ago, another prominent businessman from the county, Francis Kiambi Kiriiro, died suddenly in controversial circumstances.

Police, while launching probe into the death of the alcohol tycoon in January, indicated their investigations would focus on poisoning, among other theories.

An autopsy showed he died from cardiac arrest caused by coronary artery disease as a result of excess cholesterol.

Kiambi was found dead at his home in Karen, Nairobi, on Monday, January 9.

The post-mortem was conducted by chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor.

Dr Oduor said the cardiac arrest was caused by coronary heart disease as a result of excess cholesterol.         BY THE STAR