Murang'a family mourns man killed by security firm vehicle

Margaret Njeri, Michael Murigi’s mother, at her home in Wempa, Maragua constituency /ALICE WAITHERA

What began as a routine market trip ended in tragedy for the family of Michael Murigi, 31, a vegetable farmer from Wempa location, Maragua constituency.

Murigi was fatally injured on August 8 when a speeding vehicle belonging to a security company rammed into the boda boda he was riding on, moments before it ran over him.

The rider had spent the morning selling vegetables at Makongeni market in Thika before asking his friend, Brian Kuria, to drop him at Gatuikira village to collect payment from a customer. But their journey was violently interrupted.

“On the way, we stopped where several riders had gathered. That’s when the vehicle hit us from behind,” Kuria recalled.

“I was thrown to the roadside, but Murigi landed on the tarmac. One tyre went over his abdomen. The driver didn’t stop.”

With the help of Good Samaritans, he was rushed to a clinic in Kabati before being referred to Thika Level 5 Hospital, where he died from severe injuries to his head, chest and abdomen. 

His mother, Margaret Njeri, a 56-year-old widow, said police officers at Ngati police station treated her like a suspect instead of a grieving parent.

“My son was a known farmer. He was my only support. Now he’s gone, and instead of help, police accused us of stealing from the company,” she said, breaking down.

Human rights activists have condemned the killing and alleged corporate abuse in the region. 

Swaleh Githinji of Ndura resource centre said multinational companies have for years operated with impunity, often shielded by silence from local leaders. 

Earnest Cornel from the Kenya National Human Rights Commission urged Independent Police Oversight Authority to investigate the conduct of Ngati police officers.

Ithanga sub-county police boss Hassan Bashir confirmed the driver had been arrested and released on bail, pending a vehicle inspection. An autopsy is set to determine the exact cause of death.

For Njeri, no report or investigation can ease the emptiness. “I just want justice for my son,” she pleaded.

Instant analysis:

The killing of Michael Murigi highlights the deep intersections between corporate impunity, police bias, and rural livelihoods in Kenya. Beyond the personal tragedy, his death underscores how ordinary citizens—especially small-scale farmers—remain vulnerable on roads and in their interactions with powerful entities. Allegations of police harassment instead of protection point to systemic failures in law enforcement, where victims are re-victimised rather than supported. The muted response from local leaders and slow pace of justice feed a dangerous perception that corporate-linked incidents will be swept under the rug. Without urgent accountability, communities will continue to bear the brunt of such preventable tragedies.