A man allegedly shot by police on Wednesday died of a gunshot wound to the stomach, according to an autopsy conducted on Friday, March 7. This is despite police alleging he died of a stabbing.
According to the autopsy, 26-year-old Dennis Muthui, who was allegedly shot by police in Nairobi's Majengo area, was shot at close range in the stomach with a small calibre weapon, contradicting initial police claims that he was stabbed.
A government autopsy has concluded that Muthui was shot at close range with a small-calibre firearm, contradicting police claims that criminals stabbed him.
Chief government pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, who conducted the postmortem, found that the bullet exploded in Muthui’s stomach, leaving behind multiple fragments. Gun pellets and plastic shards were recovered from his abdomen, with Oduor collecting seven bullet fragments, according to Haki Africa Director Hussein Khalid.
“The bullet exploded in the stomach, and they were able to collect pellets from the stomach. At least seven pellets were collected from the remains,” said Khalid.
Muthui was fatally shot on Wednesday morning in Majengo as protests erupted over the police killing of 17-year-old Ibrahim Ramadan. Witnesses at the scene reported that a police officer fired the fatal shot, striking Muthui in the stomach. He died instantly, they said.
Khalid told the press, “This clearly discounts the allegations that he was stabbed. This confirms that he was shot and killed. According to eyewitnesses, the person who killed him identified himself as a police officer.”
Hours later, the National Police Service issued a statement claiming Muthui had been stabbed, a version of events sharply contradicted by forensic evidence. His body was taken to Nairobi City Mortuary.
The postmortem findings have been submitted to the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is now investigating the killing. Police officials have since interdicted the officer accused of shooting Muthui.
Muthui’s family demands swift action from the authorities, calling for accountability and justice.
During the protests in the Majengo area, reports indicate that between two and three individuals lost their lives, and numerous others sustained injuries. The unrest began following the alleged police shooting of 17-year-old Ibrahim Ramadhan on March 4, 2025, which led to widespread demonstrations.
Reports vary regarding the number of deaths. The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) reported two fatalities, including Muthui. The whereabouts of the second body remain unknown after police reportedly removed it from the scene. However, other sources indicate that a third individual succumbed to gunshot wounds, bringing the death toll to three.
The number of injured individuals also varies across reports. KHRC documented eight people with gunshot wounds, six of whom were admitted to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.
In contrast, the Kenya Red Cross reported attending to 37 casualties, with two critically injured individuals evacuated to Kenyatta National Hospital and one to Pumwani Maternity Hospital.
