Former Tharaka Nithi governor aspirant is dead

Former Tharaka Nithi governor aspirant Gitare Mbiuki is dead.

According to the police, Mbiuki  might have been murdered or died of suicide. 

The politician was found dead in his car parked on the roadside at the Kanyuambora area, more than 50 Kilometres from his Weru home.

Police said preliminary findings show that he shot himself in his car but the motive remains unclear.

Other theories indicated he was killed and the suicide theory staged on him.

Police said investigations into the incident 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 car.

The family told police the deceased left his home on Monday at around 3 pm. 

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

The family was then forced to make a report at a police station in Tharaka Nithi before embarking on a search for their kin.

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

Preliminary investigations indicate that Mbiuki succumbed to a gunshot wound on his head.

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.

According to the authorities, the gun was found on the deceased's chest, above his left hand.

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