Detectives are investigating a deadly shooting incident in Dadaab, Garissa County, after a businessman was found dead inside his car at the Dagahaley refugee camp.

The body was discovered by residents along the Dagahaley–Welhar road on Wednesday, July 9, next to a stalled Toyota Succeed with visible damage.

Police officers who arrived at the scene found the vehicle abandoned with a bullet hole on the driver’s side of the windscreen.

Inside the car, the body of the driver was slumped over the steering wheel with bloodstains on his back.

The victim was later identified as Osman Ahmed Abdulahi, 42, a refugee and well-known businessman from Block 11 of the Dagahaley Refugee Camp.

Police believe he may have been shot while driving through the road after defying an order to stop from gunmen suspected to be either al Shabaab militants or local militia.

A spent 7.6mm special cartridge was recovered around 100 metres from where the vehicle had stalled, pointing to the possibility that he was attacked at close range.

Police say the attackers could have opened fire after the victim tried to escape or refused to comply.

The area, which is close to the Kenya-Somalia border, has long faced security threats from al Shabaab militants who often target roads used by civilians and security teams.

Although police operations have reduced large-scale attacks, smaller, isolated incidents continue to occur.

Security teams have in recent years stepped up their presence in the region through increased patrols and technology, but threats persist due to the porous nature of the border.

Police also noted that the area’s large refugee population adds another layer of complexity to maintaining security, as some individuals are reportedly pursued by gunmen from Somalia.

The body of Osman Abdulahi was moved to the mortuary for postmortem as investigations continue.