'Thoughtless' Fikirini Jacobs faces resignation pressure after fatal shooting

Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs yesterday recorded a statement in connection with the death of Cecil Ouma as pressure mounted for him to resign over the controversial fatal shooting of the youth mobiliser.

The 28-year-old died on Tuesday evening on arrival at Park Road Nursing Home, where he had been rushed moments after the incident in Nairobi’s Kariokor area, where Fikirini had presided over a youth empowerment programme.

The PS went to Nairobi Area regional police headquarters, where he was grilled before recording a statement, shedding light on the incident for the first time before briefly addressing journalists who had camped outside.

“The circumstances surrounding Ouma's death remain distressing and are the subject of an active investigation; no family should have to endure such a loss and no young person should lose their life in such circumstances,” said Fikirini.

According to the PS, he had honoured an invitation by investigators to give his account of the events leading up to the incident. He said he had given an account of what “really transpired” in the statement.

Seven people, including two police officers and an official from Fikirini’s office, have also recorded a statement in connection with the shooting.

Initially, there was a cover-up attempt after the PS failed to inform officers at Pangani Police Station what had actually transpired.

Ouma is believed to have been shot and injured by one of the bodyguards assigned to the PS, who had contacted the victim the previous day to mobilise youth to attend his function in Kariokor.

After the function, Fikirini signalled Ouma to his official car, where he gave the man some Sh10,000 to share with his peers as a “token” of appreciation for attending the event.

But the youth, numbering about 100, rejected the amount, insisting it was too little, prompting Ouma to return to the PS’s vehicle and give the feedback.

What actually transpired inside the vehicle is subject to investigation, but Ouma’s colleagues claim an altercation ensued before their leader was pushed out of the moving vehicle. They saw him lying on the road with blood oozing from the left side of his chest below the breast.

They rushed the man to the nearest hospital after learning that he had been shot. Unfortunately, Ouma succumbed to the single bullet wound.

Now, the PS and his two aides have been linked to the death of the youth mobiliser described as influential, and at the beck and call of city politicians who sought his services.

A postmortem conducted at the Chiromo mortuary established that Ouma died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the left side of the chest.

Pathologists Joseph Ndung’u and Benard Midia concurred that there was a lot of internal bleeding, leading to his death.

“We were able to retrieve the bullet head, which we handed over for ballistic investigation to the IPOA (Independent Policing Oversight Authority) team,” Dr Ndung’u said.

Dr Midia explained that the bullet entered the left forearm around the elbow region, then went through and entered the chest.

This, the expert said, punctured the lungs and then, through the spine, fractured the spine and then was lodged behind the spine, where it was retrieved.

“This was a close range; we classify this as a near-contact gunshot wound from what we found,” noted Dr Midia, adding that the body did not have physical defence wounds.

As investigations commence, pressure is now mounting on Fikirini to resign and allow for an independent probe. There are fears he might use his authority while in office to influence the outcome of the investigations.

Human rights activists, politicians, lawyers and Kenyans called for him to step aside immediately, accusing him of trying to cover up the shooting incident.

Some of his mourning colleagues, while trying to recollect what transpired, demanded the arrest of the PS who was appointed to the position last year following the reconstitution of the broad-based cabinet.

"We heard a commotion forcing some of the youths to knock on the car windows to know what was happening and ensure that Ouma was safe," Lawrence Agolla, a close friend of the deceased.

"It was then that the door was opened and Ouma fell bleeding as the vehicle sped off towards Pangani, then drove into the police station, where several officers came out and shot in the air," he added.

At the time of the incident, it is alleged that the PS was in the vehicle and did not immediately record a statement until Thursday afternoon, when he showed up in the Nairobi area following immense pressure by the public.

Among leaders calling for Fikirini’s resignation is former nominated senator Millicent Omanga.

“This boy was not armed and I don’t know why the PS has not been sacked or resigned because this is not the Kenya we want,” she said.

Constitutional lawyer Willis Otieno, while reacting to Ouma’s shooting, blamed the PS, who he said must answer difficult questions, including how the deceased ended up in the vehicle.

“Who was inside it at every stage of the journey? Why do different accounts of what happened appear to conflict? What instructions were given after the shooting, and were all relevant records, communications, and evidence immediately preserved for investigators?” Otieno posed.

Adding: “Public office carries a duty of accountability. These questions deserve clear, verifiable answers through a transparent and independent investigation.”

Former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi maintained that top government officials must concentrate on their work as technocrats and avoid engaging in political activities.

The family describe Ouma as a social young man. His brother, Jeff Otieno, said the deceased was a student pursuing a business course until 2018, when he dropped out.

“When he dropped out, he developed close links with politicians and became known mostly in Nairobi,” said Otieno.

Owing to his wide network, Ouma was on the police radar ahead of the second Genz commemoration and on the eve of the day, he was arrested over claims of mobilising the youths, but he was later released.

“We have heard some people claiming that he was a goon, but it is not true; they want to twist a narrative. The big question is why was an unarmed man shot inside the vehicle?” another close friend said.

Ouma’s wife, Sharon Wairimu, described the deceased as a loving man and caring husband.

“Usually, he calls frequently when away, but that day, I sensed that something was amiss when he failed to call or even find out what we would eat for dinner,” recalled Wairimu.

Adding, “That day after 5 pm, when I called him just to find out if everything was well, another person picked up and told me to proceed to Park Road Nursing home, where I learnt that he had passed on.”

Ojiro Odhiambo, a human rights defender, called for the resignation of the PS, citing that killing someone inside a car is a serious crime.

“On that account alone, the PS by now and under moral obligation should have resigned but because he has not done that, we are asking President Ruto to relieve him from his duties immediately,” Ojiro stated.