KENYA – A man was on Sunday shot dead while confronting thugs who had attacked his girlfriend at an apartment building in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

Police say 35-year-old Geoffrey Sigei and Winfred Kairuthi, 34, arrived at the apartment in two separate vehicles in the wee hours of Sunday morning, where they were confronted by the thugs.

The apartment’s guard told detectives that Winfred was first to enter the gate, followed by the deceased, then the thugs whose number is yet to be stated.

He narrated that after the vehicles had gone past the main gate, three men forced their way inside and went to Winfred’s vehicle before ransacking it.

“As the deceased was parking his vehicle, he saw the thugs confronting Winfred and went to her aid, wielding a rungu,” the guard told the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The armed thugs then opened fire and shot him in the abdomen as they fled the scene. Neighbours who had heard the commotion responded to the incident and rushed Sigei to a nearby hospital.

He however succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment. It has been established that the couple had been trailed on their way home by an SUV that police believe assailants used as their getaway vehicle.

Two spent cartridges of 9mm calibre were recovered from the scene.

“Investigations into the early morning murder have since been launched and detectives are following crucial leads to unravel the suspects behind the murder most foul,” DCI said.