By DAMARIS AWUOR: Police in Kirinyaga County have launched a manhunt for a suspect following the murder of 28-year-old Derrick Mwai, who was stabbed to death at Kiang’ombe Shopping Centre in Gichugu.

Detectives from Kirinyaga East Sub-County, alongside local residents, are actively searching for a man identified as Franklin Mwangi Kinyua, who was seen with the victim shortly before the attack.

The incident unfolded after an initial altercation between Mwai and Kinyua at around 7pm at the shopping centre.

Although the dispute appeared to have settled, violence erupted two hours later as Mwai was heading home on a boda boda.

According to the victim’s father, James Mwai, the suspect intercepted the motorcycle at about 9pm, stabbed Mwai in the chest, and fled into the night.

The boda boda rider immediately raised an alarm, prompting family members and locals to rush Mwai toward Kerugoya County Referral Hospital.

However, he succumbed to his injuries en route.

A post-mortem examination later confirmed that a single, deep stab wound to the chest caused his death.

Mwai’s family expressed deep shock, noting that the deceased and the suspect were close friends prior to the tragic fallout.

Police investigations into the exact motive behind the killing remain ongoing as the community prepares to lay Mwai to rest at his family home in Gatunguru village.