and Correspondents

A councillor tipped for the Ruiru mayoral position in the forthcoming elections was on Thursday night murdered as his two children watched.

Last evening, Juja lawmaker Stephen Ndicho and Democratic Party Thika branch Chairman Dick Githaiga condemned the killing. They said it was political and asked the police to investigate the matter, saying the killing could be linked to the forthcoming mayoral polls.

The assailants shot him first before they chopped off his head.

Central provincial police boss James Munyua said Cllr Charles Maina Wanjuguna of Githurai Ward was killed soon after he left his Githurai Kimbo hotel at about 9 pm.

The killers lay in wait for him in a maize plantation outside his Githurai residence.

Mr Munyua said the killers pounced on the councillor after he had packed his pick-up and just before he could open the door to his house. In the meantime, his son had left him together with his daughter to go and relieve himself.

The men, who were armed with guns, among other crude weapons, demanded that the leader gives them money, upon which he handed over Sh40,000.

At this juncture, said Mr Munyua, one of the thugs shouted to the others, "let us forget this business about money and get on to finish our mission!" They then shot him dead.

Police, who heard the screams and who are based at a post (built through Mr Maina's efforts) next to the councillor's house, rushed to the scene but found the gangsters jumping into his pick-up.

The vehicle lost control and the gang vanished into the darkness.

In another incident, gunmen killed a Somali businessman and critically injured another in Nairobi's Eastleigh Estate.

The two were ambushed on their way to Wilson Airport to take a flight to Mogadishu.

Mr Mohammed Abdi Rahaman died on the way to Guru Nanak Hospital while Mr Ali Abdi Raha man was admitted with a bullet lodged in his body.

A taxi driver, Mr Silas Ndere, who was to drive them, escaped a hail of bullets.

The Kasarani Divisional CID boss, Mr Daniel Kipkorir, said the gangsters fled with two briefcases taken from the traders. Their contents were not known, he added.

Police arrested two suspects by chance in Nairobi's Mlango Kubwa area on Wednesday and seized a pistol loaded with six bullets.

Mr Kipkorir said officers from Pangani Police Station on patrol bumped into the two men, who took to their heels.

"The officers gave chase and caught up with them at a nearby petrol station as they attempted to climb up a wall. We have not established what the two men were up to," he said.

Police in Murang'a have arrested a suspect in connection with the slaying of retired Senior Superintendent Abiud Peter Maina in Murang'a Town on Tuesday night.

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