Police yet to arrest gunman in Ruiru shooting incident as family demands justice

Police are yet to arrest an armed man who shot at a matatu driver and his sister along the Eastern Bypass in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

Jared Onsase and his sister Susan Nanjera survived death by a whisker in the the near-fatal confrontation that left his vehicle’s windscreen and tyre damaged by bullets, on Wednesday July 29, 2026.

The gunman who was in a Subaru Outback vehicle registration number KDQ 661N also reportedly shot at Onsase’s sister Nanjera when she intervened trying to find out what was happening.

Narrating his ordeal, the public service vehicle (PSV) driver, who was heading towards Ruiru in the matatu opreated by Runa Sacco, said he came across the Subaru that had reportedly blocked the road.

“When I approached him and attempted to find out what was happening, the Subaru driver came out of the vehicle and slapped me several times. I ran back to my vehicle and pulled a plastic pipe that I intended to hit him with,” said Onsase.

At that point, he added, the gunman rushed back to his vehicle and came out with a pistol with which he opened fire at him but missed and the bullet hit the matatu front tyre.

“He was accusing me of attempting to attack him with a panga which was not true. All I had was a plastic pipe,” Onsase told journalists, adding that he drove his vehicle from the scene to a nearby parking where he changed the wheel.

The confrontation continued after the aggressor allegedly followed the matatu driver to where he had parked and found him in the company of his sister and her son.

“The man attempted to force my brother into the boot of the Subaru but he resisted. When I asked him who he was, he drew a pistol and shot at me but missed and the bullet shattered the matatu glass windows,” said Ms Nanjera.

Members of the public who were attracted by the commosion intervened and alerted police officers who later took both vehicles to the Ruiru Police Station pending investigations.

However, the Subaru driver was set free despite Onsare reporting the incident and obtaining an occurrences book (OB) number.

Onsase expressed concerns over his family’s safety after realizing that the gunman was set free without any charges preferred against him.

Area sub county police commander Charles Kibathi could not be reached for comment as he did not answer phone calls.

A source said Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives are trying to establish the circumstances that led to the confrontation and determine the appropriate legal action against whoever is found culpable.