NYAHURURU, Kenya, August 18- Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru narrowly escaped being carjacked on Monday night at Nyahururu’s Muthaiga Estate in an incident that saw one of the suspected carjackers shot dead.
His accomplices were arrested and a homemade gun recovered during the 8 p.m. incident.
Wanjiru was heading home in the company of his relatives when he was accosted by the three gangsters some few meters from his house and demanded money and other valuables from them.
According to Nyandarua OCPD Charles Wasike, the gang had earlier robbed other passengers traveling in a taxi vehicle along the same route when they pounced on Wanjiru as he drove home in his saloon car vehicle.
He said that they ordered him to surrender his mobile phone and money at gunpoint.
“The athlete and his other relatives had already given out their valuables before the police intervened,” said Wasike.
Wasike said that police who had been alerted of the incident by eyewitnesses moved in fast and bumped onto the gang as they terrorized the athlete and his relatives.
“Police found the trio harassing Wanjiru as they demanded more cash. This is when they shot at one of them killing him instantly,” noted the OCPD.
He said that the other two were arrested as they tried to flee and were locked up at Nyahururu police station.
The incident occurred barely two weeks after another gang terrorized the 2008 Sportsman of the Year and other athletes as they drove home.
They however did not steal anything from them since they were overpowered by the athletes.
Speaking to Capital News moments after the attack, Wanjiru, who is a police officer regretted that such incidents would occur even as early as 7.30 pm.
He said a group of gangsters has been terrorizing residents in the neighborhood and called on the security officers to intensify their patrols to reverse the trend.
He asked the government to provide security to athletes who are based in the high altitude town.
“It is even being impossible for athletes to train in the morning for fear of being attacked. We want the government to assure us of safety as we train” he said.
He asked the Nyahururu Municipal Council to erect street lights along the streets so as to provide security.
This was the third time the 2009 London Marathon winner has been attacked by armed criminals since late last year.
