CCTV Footage Captures Fatal Police Shooting at Karatina Petrol Station

Security camera footage released Tuesday has shed light on the final moments of a businessman who died following an encounter with law enforcement officers at a fuel station in Karatina Town over the weekend.

The surveillance video shows an escalating confrontation between Gathu Matheri and two uniformed officers on patrol during the late evening hours of January 18. According to eyewitness accounts, Matheri had been involved in a commercial disagreement with an automobile technician at his business location when authorities arrived at the premises.

The timestamp on the recording indicates that tensions intensified around 11:10 p.m., with the footage documenting physical contact between the officers and Matheri. The video shows one officer brandishing a service weapon and making contact with Matheri’s lower extremities during the exchange.

In an apparent attempt to de-escalate, Matheri is observed moving away from the initial location. However, the officers pursued him to where a white commercial vehicle was stationed. The footage captures the officers readying their firearms while engaged in what appears to be a verbal exchange with the businessman.

At approximately 11:10:52 p.m., Matheri suddenly fell to the ground while positioned between both officers, sustaining what authorities later confirmed were gunshot injuries. The recording shows the officers remaining at the location briefly before departing the scene ahead of civilian response.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has assumed control of the investigation, deploying specialists from its regional office in Nyeri to gather physical evidence and conduct witness interviews. A law enforcement officer stationed at Karatina police headquarters appeared before a magistrate Tuesday, with the court granting IPOA’s application for a 14-day custodial period to facilitate ongoing inquiries.

Judicial officers cited public sentiment and security considerations in their decision to deny bail at this stage. The accused is scheduled to return to court February 3 for formal charging proceedings.

Civil liberties organizations have expressed concern over what they characterize as an increasing pattern of excessive force by security personnel, vowing to monitor the case through its conclusion. The incident has sparked considerable public reaction in Karatina and surrounding communities, with residents demanding accountability and transparency in the investigative process.