Deaths, destruction: Fifteen dead, survivors nurse injuries after June 25 protests

At the Nairobi Funeral Home, a heavy blanket of grief hangs over the air. One family after the other walks in, their faces pale with shock, their eyes swollen from hours of weeping. 

They have come to identify their loved ones—victims of the June 25 protests—who left home that morning and never returned. Among the dead: a 17-year-old boy with dreams of becoming a professional welder, a young father-to-be whose wife was eight months pregnant, and a sole breadwinner with two children, one of whom suffers from cerebral palsy.

Their stories are different but bound by a common thread — lives cut short in a brutal encounter with law enforcement during a day of youth-led protests against government excesses.

Ironically, the demonstrations had marked the anniversary of similar killings a year ago. And as families grieved over their dead kin and others searched for lost loved ones, Interior Cabinet Secretary ordered police to shoot and kill anyone who threatened their lives or government property.

Vowing to defend any police officer who killed “five or ten” protesters, Murkomen wondered: “When you target an armoury in a police station, when you steal guns, when you burn a police station, you want us to celebrate you and bring you a birthday cake?”

He further advised: “You should only run when you see that with whatever you have even if you were to kill five or six they’re still many left (protestors).” 

By Thursday evening, five bodies had been confirmed as protest-related casualties at City Mortuary.

Human rights groups put the number of those who died at 15. The figure could rise since a cursory look at police reports indicate more than 15 deaths were reported in various police stations across the country.

Although, Murkomen had on Thursday said 10 people died in the protests.

Four bore gunshot wounds, raising fresh questions about the use of live ammunition by police.

One body showed signs of severe head and facial trauma, with burn injuries on the shoulder — possible evidence of beating and partial burning.

Some of the dead had taken part in the demonstrations. Others were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Kelvin Njau was waiting for a bus in Kikuyu Town after leaving work at a road construction site when he was allegedly shot.

Witnesses say the 23-year-old was hit just above the left eye; the bullet tore through his head, exiting at the back.

Until his death, Kelvin was the sole breadwinner for his young family. He leaves behind his widow, Winfred Wangari, and two children — one of them living with a severe case of cerebral palsy.

Through tears, Winfred recalls her last phone call with him at exactly 3:28 pm on that fateful day.

“I don’t know how to move forward from here. He took care of us. He worked hard for the kids. Now he’s gone,” she says, as she broke down, her voice cracking with emotion.

In Ongata Rongai, 17-year-old Ian Opango was one of the youngest victims. A welder by trade, Ian lived with his aunt, Fatuma Makokha, who had warned him that morning not to join the protests.

“When I left the house in the morning, I told him to stay indoors. He agreed. Rongai is not a safe place when there’s unrest,” Fatuma says, tears rolling down her cheeks.

When she returned home around 3pm and found Ian missing, panic set in.  She checked the protest areas but couldn’t find him. It wasn’t until she came across a photo circulating online — showing a boy lying motionless, wearing clothes she instantly recognised — that her worst fears were confirmed.

“He had been shot just below his right eye. The bullet went through his head,” she said on Thursday after identifying her nephew’s body.

On Thursday, Kenya Power regretted the death of Stima Plaza Security Guard on duty during protests. 

Security guard

“We are deeply saddened to report that Fred Wamale Wanyonyi, a security guard stationed at our Stima Plaza headquarters, was fatally shot at the entrance of the building at 4:30 pm this evening during the ongoing protests,” the statement said.

It said that Wamale, an employee of Hatari Security, was on duty at the Kolobot Road entrance when the incident occurred. He was rushed to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“We regret the unfortunate death of Mr. Wamale and are working with the relevant investigative organs to unearth the circumstances under which the incident occurred. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.”

In Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Nairobi, the Mwangi family is struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of their firstborn, 19-year-old David Mwangi.

What began as a simple errand turned into a nightmare after David was fatally shot while heading to pick up his younger sister from a relative’s home.

“I woke him up at around noon to bring his sibling home from tuition. Shortly after he left, I got a call asking me to come and identify a body. It was my son. He had not even reached where I sent him,” recounted Nyambura Mwangi, David’s mother.

Nyambura says her son was shot in the head and his body was taken to Villa Police Station by officers, where the family’s ordeal worsened.

“They initially refused to formally book the incident and left us outside in the cold with the body. It took pressure and insistence for them to finally give us an OB number at 1am,” she said.

David’s grandfather, David Mwenda, squarely blamed the government for the killing.

“We are devastated and broken. The government took the life of my grandson. We don’t even have the means to bury him. We want justice,” he said.

Area MCA Francis Kimondo has confirmed that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched investigations into the killing following his intervention.

Meanwhile, in Machakos County, families in Matuu town are also reeling from the aftermath of police and civilian confrontation.

At least two people were killed and six others injured after police opened fire on protesters and bystanders.

In Ol Kalou, police say a demonstrator who had stolen a ride in a police Landcruiser fell and sustained fatal injuries. The death, they claim, occasioned massive destruction of property.

Victoria Mutheu, a mother of eight, is one of the grieving parents. Her 21-year-old son, William Musyimi Mutevu, was fatally shot with three bullets to the stomach.

“My son was unarmed. He was just trying to make ends meet. Now he’s gone and I don’t know if I’ll ever recover from this pain,” Mutheu said from her home in Machakos.

She recounted receiving a call around 11am, only to find her son already dead on arrival at Matuu Mission Hospital.

“The doctor said he had multiple gunshot wounds and had bled a lot,” she said.

Another unidentified man succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at Matuu Level 4 Hospital. Hospital officials confirmed receiving nine victims from the protests, six with bullet wounds.

Among the survivors is Eric Mulwa, who sustained a critical gunshot wound to the head. His uncle, Richard Mulwa, says Eric was shot 200 meters from the police station while going about his business.

“He wasn’t even part of the protests. He was just passing by. The police must be held accountable for this,” said Richard. Eric has since been transferred to Kitui Level 5 Hospital for specialised care.