Residents of Embu County were left stunned on Tuesday after a former MCA aspirant, Swaleh Abdalla, was shot dead by police while attempting a dramatic escape from custody.

The incident, which unfolded minutes after a court appearance, involved pepper-spraying prison officers, a shootout on the run in Gatondo Village, and a fatal scuffle at a construction site.

The deceased, who had contested for the seat of Kirimari Ward in the 2022 General Election, had been in remand at Embu GK Prison for over a year, facing charges of murder.

According to Embu West Sub-county Police Commander Vincent Kitili, the escape attempt occurred shortly after Abdalla and other inmates were being transported back to prison following a session at Siakago Law Courts. “He sprayed pepper into the officers’ eyes while inside the van, catching them off guard,” Kitili told reporters. “In the confusion, he slipped out and fled.”

As the other officers secured the remaining prisoners, one officer jumped out of the moving van and took off in pursuit of Abdalla. The chase led through the quiet paths of Gatondo Village and ended at a nearby construction site, where the suspect attempted to arm himself.

“He managed to secure a panga from the site and started threatening the officer, shouting at him not to dare come closer,” said Kitili. “But the officer stood his ground and continued advancing towards him.”

Police say the officer gave multiple verbal warnings, asking Abdalla to surrender. However, the suspect allegedly charged forward, weapon in hand. “He was neutralised as he advanced towards the officer armed with the weapon,” Kitili said, defending the use of force.

The body was taken to Embu Level 5 Hospital mortuary for preservation. Meanwhile, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have launched investigations into how the deceased managed to obtain pepper spray while under police custody.