The family of a DCI officer was thrown into mourning following the death of their teenage son who was killed during the Saba Saba Day protests.
James Gachara, a High School student, was shot in Nanyuki on Monday, July 7, as the protests turned into skirmishes between anti-riot police officers and protesters.
A video of the incident captured the moment an individual believed to be a police officer fired at some protesters in Nanyuki, hitting Gachara, who was left with fatal injuries.
According to reports, the teenager was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, adding to the list of casualties from the protests which rocked several parts of the country.
Gachara's family have since confirmed that the high schooler is the son of a DCI officer, posted at a police station in Meru County.
Following Gachara's death, his family has lamented about their inability to offset his hospital bills, a dynamic which has hampered burial plans. The family is now appealing to the government and well-wishers to support them.
In the wake of Saba Saba protests, tension has gripped Nanyuki town for days, particularly after it emerged that besides Gachara, another youth, Julia Njoki Wangui, passed away under unclear circumstances.
On Monday, July 14, locals, led by Njoki's grandmother, made good their threat as they took to the streets to protest the death of the young lady, who reportedly lost her life while in remand.
The National Police Service (NPS) has since issued a statement on Njoki's death, confirming that she was among 126 alleged protesters arrested during the Saba Saba Day protests.
While the NPS did not necessarily reveal how the Njoki died, in their statement, they were adamant that they were under no investigations as they refuted allegations of police misconduct.
Meanwhile, rights group Haki Africa, in a recent update, revealed that the death toll from the protests had risen to 43, spread across 10 counties. Nairobi leads in death with 10 fatalities, followed by Kiambu (9), Kajiado (6), Murang'a (5), and Embu (5).
