A 23-year-old man was shot dead in Kawangware, Nairobi after he and another man allegedly snatched a mobile phone from an unidentified armed person.

The incident occurred on Friday, September 18, 2026.

Police officers who responded to the scene found the body of Steven Muriuki lying face down on the road near the Equity Bank area.

According to preliminary police reports, Muriuki and another man allegedly fled on a motorcycle after snatching a mobile phone from the unidentified man.

The armed man is said to have pursued them on another motorcycle before opening fire when he caught up with them.

Muriuki reportedly fell from the moving motorcycle after being shot, while the man riding the motorcycle escaped.

The shooter then allegedly recovered his mobile phone and fled from the scene on the motorcycle.

Police said Muriuki had one visible gunshot wound.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Dagoretti visited and processed the scene. His body was moved to the City Mortuary pending an autopsy.

Investigators are working to recover the cartridge used in the shooting and are also reviewing CCTV footage from the area to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and identify the person who fired the shot.

The motorcycle allegedly used by the shooter had not been identified by police.

Police have been fighting to contain crime being committed by gangs on motorcycles in urban areas.

This has forced authorities to launch a crackdown on the riders. Dozens of them have been arrested in the operations.