GSU officer shot by colleagues laid to rest, family not satisfied with explanation

General Service Unit officer David Gitonga who was shot dead by colleagues at Basuba base in Lamu was buried on Saturday at his home in Marimanti, Tharaka Nithi County.

Gitonga was shot in the neck while he was headed back to the Basuba GSU Camp at around 11.45pm on October 3, 2016 when he allegedly failed to respond to a security challenge given to him by his junior colleagues manning the camp.

Speaking on behalf of the unit’s boss, Chief Inspector Reverend Hosea Tumaiyo apologized to the family saying Gitonga did not respond to the security challenge thus prompting officers to fire, which was not intentional but a routine security measure.

“The camp is very prone to attacks by terrorists and therefore security is normally very tight and nothing is left to chance. The officers thought Gitonga was one of the attackers because he did not give the password used to enter the camp. We are deeply sorry for the mistake, please don’t take it otherwise,” he said.

Lamu East OCPD eulogized the late officer as a very hardworking man, adding that becoming a sergeant was as a result of his hard work and discipline.

Gitonga’s family said they are not satisfied with the reason Tumaiyo gave for their kin’s death, adding that they would seek the truth of the matter.

“I am deeply hurt because I have lost my young brother to unclear circumstances. We are not contented with the explanation given to us, we  will follow up on the case  until we find out the truth,” Rabura Mwambia, who is the deceased’s elder brother, said.

Friends, family and colleagues of the late Sergeant David Gitonga Gaicu thronged his home to pay their last respects to the young officer who died at the age of 33. He had been posted in Lamu for 9 months.