Actor Ainea Ojiambo speaks out after the Moi Avenue gun drama

Piece by: star.writer
Lifestyle

Actor Ainea Ojiambo was Friday night released by police after he was involved in a dramatic shooting incident in Nairobi.

Ojiambo who is known for his role as 'snake' on the 'Makutano Junction' series is a licensed gun holder.

He was granted a police bond as investigations into the shooting incident along Moi Avenue, Nairobi goes on.

A guard and a bystander were shot and seriously wounded in the incident. The guard was shot in the eye while the second man was hit in the leg after Ojiambo fired as he struggled with a gang of three who had tried to rob him of his gold chain.

The incident happened on Friday at about 4.30 pm as Ojiambo engaged an unknown woman in a conversation.

The area is usually crowded at that time.

CCTV footage that captured the incident showed Ojiambo talk with the woman on a sidewalk before three men approached him and tried to grab his gold chain.

One grabbed the chain as the others pushed the woman in the confusion. He quickly reacted, shoved them aside and pulled out his gun from a hoist and discharged as the three attackers scampered for safety.

The video showed him reach for the neck chain that apparently fell on the ground and a face mask before he returned the pistol to safety.

It was then he realized the bullets he discharged had hit a guard who was seated few meters away and a bystander.

The three men who tried to violently grab the chain managed to escape in the confusion. Friends of Ojiambo who is also known as “OJ” said he felt sorry after learning he missed the target and instead hit innocent people.

Police arrived at the scene moments later and saved Ojiambo from angry crowd that wanted to lynch him.

They accused him of being trigger happy.

But Ojiambo explained to them he was aiming at a gang that had attacked him. It forced police to lob teargas canisters at the mob that had turned violent seeking to lynch the man before he was whisked away to Central police station.

The injured were rushed to hospital in serious condition.

-The Star/Cyrus Ombati