Families and friends of the victims of a recent murder-suicide in Rongai are grappling with shock. The incident, which resulted in the death of a civilian and a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) ranger, has left many in disbelief.
Ranger Mohamed Daud, reportedly stressed by work and personal issues, was identified as the assailant. On the morning of August 17, Daud fatally shot 24-year-old Stanley Kuria at a club in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County, before taking his own life a few kilometers away. Daud initially shot Kuria at the N Bar Night Club, then left only to return later armed with an AK-47 rifle.
Witnesses reported that Daud ordered everyone in the club to lie down before shooting Kuria multiple times in the back and head. After the shooting, Daud fled the scene on a motorcycle, instructing the club to close and leaving other patrons waiting for help.
According to colleagues, Daud had been struggling with financial, work, and family issues. They noted that such challenges are not uncommon among rangers. Prior to the shooting, Daud had an altercation with Kuria around 8 pm the previous night, but it is unclear what sparked the dispute.
Daud commandeered a motorbike from the scene, threatening the rider, John Wamae, to take him where he wanted or face death. During their journey, Daud stopped at a shop selling muguka and argued briefly over the price, with Daud attempting to pay less than the asked amount before the shopkeeper noticed the weapon and complied.
“He showed me a gun and I told him it was okay. Go and don’t pay and he left before he jumped onto the waiting motorcycle,” said the shopkeeper.
Wamae said he rode the ranger to the nearby Nairobi National Park Workshop residence where he dropped him.
“When I dropped him he said may God bless you and I left,” said Wamae.
The ranger involved in the Rongai murder-suicide incident reportedly took his own life at his home, using his rifle. The bullet entered through his chin and exited through his head. During the investigation, police discovered a magazine containing 20 live rounds at his residence.
At the crime scene in the Rongai nightclub, investigators recovered three spent cartridges, which have been retained as evidence. The bodies of the ranger and Stanley Kuria have been transferred to Nairobi Funeral Home for preservation.
Kuria’s mother, Waithera, visited the mortuary and expressed her shock and demand for justice. She recounted how Kuria had asked her for money the previous night for a night out, which she refused. “I am shocked to learn he is dead. We want justice,” she said.
The rise in suicide cases among police, prison warders, and rangers has been noted, with officials attributing these incidents to the intense pressures and traumas associated with their roles. Law enforcement personnel often face significant community problems and are expected to manage challenging situations while putting their lives at risk, leading to a troubling increase in deaths linked to trauma, including suicides by firearm.
